DIPHYSCIUM CUMBERLANDIANUM Harvill

HABIT: Small (4-13 mm), perennial, dark green to blackish plants growing scattered or in loose tufts. Capsules immersed, obliquely ovoid and swollen on one side.

SIMILAR SPECIES: This species is similar to the more common Diphyscium foliosum and occupies similar habitats. Diphyscium cumberlandianum can be distinguished from the latter on the basis of its acute vegetative leaves and smooth-awned perichaetial leaves. Diphyscium foliosum has obtuse to rounded obtuse vegetative leaves and rough-awned perichaetial leaves.

TOTAL RANGE: This species is apparently endemic to the mountains of the Southeast, where it is reported from AL, SC, NC, TN, KY, and OH.

STATE RANGE: First observed in 1988 in Jackson County, a second locality was recently discovered in Hocking County.

STATE STATUS: 1990-1991: Added, 1992 to present: Endangered.

HABITAT: On shaded, moist or wet sandstone near streams and on vertical cliff faces.

HAZARDS: Drying of the habitat; removal of forest canopy shading rock exposures; overcollecting by botanists.

RECOVERY POTENTIAL: Unknown, but predictably poor.

INVENTORY GUIDELINES: Collect minute samples (area ca. the size of a thumbnail) and, if with sporophytes, only after spores have been released.

COMMENTS: This species is restricted to the unglaciated southeastern portion of the state and may be more common than current records indicate. Intensive searching should find additional locations. Ohio currently represents the northernmost range of distribution for this species in North America.

SELECTED REFERENCES:

Crum, H.A. and L.E. Anderson. 1981. Mosses of Eastern North America. Two vols. Columbia University Press.

Crum, H. 1983. Mosses of the Great Lakes Forest, ed. 3. University Herbarium, Univ. of Michigan.

Division of Natural Areas and Preserves

Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Created: 3/1990 Jerry A. Snider

Database Code: SPPD.425