Bucklandiella heterosticha (Hedw.) Beknarek-Ochyra & Ochyra
Synonym: Racomitrium heterostichum (Hedw.) Brid.
Special status: NONE
Recognition: Smallish for a racomitrium, this species is recognized in the field by its long, white hairpoints and shoots which are dark, blackish green at the base and relatively pale, yellowish olive green at the tip. It is easily confused with Grimmia trichophylla and relatives. Fortunately, Bucklandiella heterosticha usually is fertile and the left handed twist of its seta will distinguish it from the similar species of Grimmia. If a strong field gestalt has not been learned, it is necessary to prepare leaf sections to confirm identification. It has unistratose margins, and from the other species of Bucklandiella with unistratose margins it is distinguished by the flat costa, only two cells thick at midleaf and most of the way to the base of the leaf.
Distribution: Common and widespread, this is one of the most frequently encountered species on dry rocks. It rivals Codriophorus varius in abundance but does not grow so much in the riparian zone as that species.
Comments: Many of the species of Bucklandiella which are now recognized were treated as varieties of Bucklandiella heterosticha (as Rhacomitrium heterostichum) by Elva Lawton. Most of the modern species concepts were first clearly enumerated by Frisvoll (1988) and subsequently reinforced by Bednarek-Ochyra (1995) and Ochyra and Bednarek-Ochyra (2006). It is interesting that in 1995 Bednarek-Ochyra was emphatic that Bucklandiella was not separable at generic rank from Racomitrium in the broad sense, a position that has changed in the intervening years.
Memaloose Park, Wasco Co., Oregon. DHW m0817i.
Irwin Rocks, Douglas Co., Oregon. DHW 7868.
Irwin Rocks, Douglas Co., Oregon. DHW 7868.
Red Ponds, Douglas Co., Oregon. DHW 7935.
Red Ponds, Douglas Co., Oregon. DHW 7935.
Memaloose Park, Wasco Co., Oregon. DHW m0817c.
Memaloose Park, Wasco Co., Oregon. DHW m0817c.
Memaloose Park, Wasco Co., Oregon. DHW m0817c.
Memaloose Park, Wasco Co., Oregon. DHW m0817c.
Guide to Racomitrioideae of Oregon
Created 2007 Northwest Botanical Institute