Key to Species: 14
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Racomitrium varium - Ferris Gulch, Jackson Co., Oregon. DHW 9285.
14a Costa near base 3+ stratose, with 4-5 large adaxial cells; muticous leaves followed by leaves with hair points on the same shoot, alternating in seasonal growth increments; longitudinal walls of basal cells sinuose nodose, less than half the width of the lumen; with large, flat thickenings over vertical cell walls and sometimes also with papillulae (little papillae on top of the big papillae); extremely common and widespread
Racomitrium varium (Mitt.) Jaeg.
Racomitrium microcarpon - Kootenai Co., Idaho. J.B. Leiberg, June 1890.
14b Costa 2-3 stratose with 2-3 large adaxial cells; all (or most) leaves with hair points; longitudinal walls of basal cells extremely thick, not markedly nodose, more than half the width of the lumen; cells smooth or more often pseudopapillose (small bumps over vertical walls in section); more common northwards, not yet in Oregon but reported from California by Norris & Shevock (2004a)
Racomitrium microcarpon (Hedw.) Brid.
Guide to Racomitrium of Oregon
Created 2007 Northwest Botanical Institute