Bruchia bolanderi

Taxobox
name = Bolander's Candlemoss
status = G2
status_system = TNC
regnum = Plantae
divisio = Bryophyta
classis = Bryopsida
subclassis = Dicranidae
ordo = Dicranales
familia = Bruchiaceae
genus = "Bruchia"
species = "B. bolanderi"
binomial = "Bruchia bolanderi"
binomial_authority = Lesq.Bolander's candlemoss, also known as Bolander's pygmymoss ("Bruchia bolanderi") is a rare plant of the Western U.S.: Oregon, California, and Nevada.cite journal
author = Spence, John R.
coauthors = Lloyd R. Stark & James R. Shevock
year = 2006
title = Contributions Toward a Bryoflora of Nevada: Bryophytes New for the Silver State, Part II
journal = Madroño
volume = 53
issue = 4
pages = 400–403
doi = 10.3120/0024-9637(2006)53 [400:CTABON] 2.0.CO;2
doilabel = 10.3120/0024-9637(2006)53[400:CTABON]2.0.CO;2] It grows on very damp bare soil. One may distinguish it from other mosses by the capsules, which are shaped like little upside-down pear fruits.

Technical description

The plants are tiny, erect, and acrocarpous, with stems and capsules together only 5.1–12 mm tall. The leaves are short, costate (but awn not filled by costa), linear, narrowly acuminate to subulate, serrulate, and green to light brown in color. The "seta" are straight, long-exserted, and 1.6–5.4 mm. long, usually longer than 3 mm. The "hypophysis" are as long as the urn. The capsules' are the most conspicuous part of the plants, and are long exserted above the perichaetial leaves, and tend to be 1.9–3.0 mm long, light brown, beige to greyish at maturity, widest at the rounded top, with a long tapering neck. The "calyptra" is smooth. There is no obvious area of dehiscence, and peristome teeth are lacking. The spores are papillose or warty.cite journal
author = Britton, Elizabeth G.
year = 1897
title = Trematodontoideae
journal = Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club
volume = 21
issue = 8
pages = 346] cite book
last = Christy
first = John A.
coauthors = David H. Wagner
year = 1996
chapter = "VII"
title = Guide for the Identification of Rare, Threatened, or Sensitive Bryophytes in the Range of the Northern Spotted Owl, Western Washington, Western Oregon, and Northwestern California: A Cooperative Project of the Eugene District, USDI Bureau of Land Management; Siuslaw National Forest, USDA Forest Service; The Nature Conservancy; and the Northwest Botanical Institute.
pages = 13] cite journal
author = Norris, Daniel H.
coauthors = James R. Shevock
year = 2004
title = Contributions toward a Bryoflora of California: II. A Key to the Mosses
journal = Madroño
volume = 51
issue = 2
pages = 163–164]

Distribution, habitat, and ecology

Endemic to western North America: Oregon, California, and Nevada. In California, found as far south as Tulare county, but not west of the Valley.

Bolander's candlemoss may be found in wet places such as meadows and the banks of streams, growing on at least partially organic soil. Where there is a recent disturbance, such as a newly eroded streambank, it will form large colonies, but will otherwise be found growing singly amongst grasses. It is a mountain species, found at elevations of 5,575 to 9,200 ft. It likes to live within lodgepole ("Pinus contorta") forest, and is associated with the mosses "Aulacomnium palustre" and species of "Pohlia".cite book
name = Pacific Gas & Electric Company
year = 2002
chapter = Exhibit E: Botanical Resources
title = Donnells-Curtis Transmission Line Project
publisher = FERC Project #2118
pages = E2-16]

The fire ecology of this plant is not known. This moss responds well to disturbance, but the fire would have to go through wet habitats that probably do not carry fire well.

Conservation status and threats

U.S. Forest Service Pacific Southwest Region Sensitive Species.

California Native Plant Society List 2.2

NatureServe California State Rank: S2.2; Global Rank: G2

Although, as an opportunistic species, it can tolerate some disturbance, continued trampling along forest trails due to recreation poses a threat.

Field identification

The best time of year to look for this plant is during the summer. One may best distinguish this moss from others when its upside-down pear-shaped capsule atop a somewhat long seta is visible; under a microscope, warty spores will also verify its identity. While without capsules, "B. bolanderi" can appear very similar to "Leptobryum pyriforme".cite web
title = "Bruchia bolanderi"
publisher = California Native Plant Society
url = http://cnps.web.aplus.net/cgi-bin/inv/inventory.cgi/Show?_id=bruchia_bolanderi
accessdate = 05/01/2007]

References

External links

* [http://cnps.web.aplus.net/cgi-bin/inv/inventory.cgi/Show?_id=bruchia_bolanderi California Native Plant Society Rare Plant Inventory article for "Bruchia bolanderi"]
* [http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/index.htm NatureServe Web Page]