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Hamatocaulis vernicosus
This is a characteristic species of moderate- and sometimes extreme-rich fens. The hooked and falcate leaves are good field characters, while under the microscope the lack of a central strand in the stem transverse section is definitive for the genus. Also, the faintly striate leaves with no differentiated alar cells and branched stems with are helpful features..
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Left to right: alar cells, whole cells, x-section |
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| Habit | Yellow–green to dirty-green in color, mostly ascending to erect, usually with numerous branches. |
| Stems | naked, with no central strand and no enlarged epidermis cells in transverse section. |
| Leaves | Falcate-secund, with a pronounced hooked upper portion, somewhat striate, especially when dry, costa single, ending about 2/3 up the leaf, margins entire. |
| Leaf Cells | elongate with blunt ends, smooth. |
| Alar Cells | not much different from basal cells. |
| Habitat | Forming lawns and small hummocks in rich fens, sometimes dominating areas and occurring in depressions and at the bases of shrubs. |
| Common Associates | In more eutrophic habitats occurring with Drepanocladus aduncus, while in mesotrophic situations, occurring with Scorpidium revolvens and S. cossonii, but generally in more nutrient rich places than are these two species. Hamatocaulis lapponicus is less branched, larger, has better developed alar cells, and occurs in depressions in similar habitats. |
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