. The Canadian field-naturalist. 456 The Canadian Field-Naturalist Vol. 89 New Data on the Distribution of the Moss Schistostega pennata in Alberta During the summer of 1974, while conducting studies of the effects of natural gas-processing plant emissions on epiphytic lichens in west- central Alberta, I made four collections of Schistostega pennata (Hedw.) Hook. & Tayl. This moss is characteristically found in caves associated with sandstone rocks but also occurs in other dark recesses (Crum 1973). Schistostega pennata has a unique protonema which has earned it the common names of goblin'
. The Canadian field-naturalist. 456 The Canadian Field-Naturalist Vol. 89 New Data on the Distribution of the Moss Schistostega pennata in Alberta During the summer of 1974, while conducting studies of the effects of natural gas-processing plant emissions on epiphytic lichens in west- central Alberta, I made four collections of Schistostega pennata (Hedw.) Hook. & Tayl. This moss is characteristically found in caves associated with sandstone rocks but also occurs in other dark recesses (Crum 1973). Schistostega pennata has a unique protonema which has earned it the common names of goblin's gold and luminous moss. The persistent protonema is fre- quently evinced in situ by a yellow-green lum- inescence produced when light is reflected from chains of spherical vesiculose cells. Each of these cells contains a few chloroplasts on the side of the cell away from the incident light. The parallel rays of light reaching the cells are refracted so as to form a cone of light illuminating the green chloroplasts. Any light not absorbed by the chloroplasts is reflected and produces the lum- inous appearance, looking as if innumerable tiny emeralds had been scattered over the deeply shaded soil. If these treasures, like the legendary goblin's gold, are removed to the light, however, the luminescence disappears leaving only damp earth. Schistostega pennata is known from Europe, mainland Asia, and Japan, and in North Amer- ica from British Columbia, Washington, and Alberta in the west, to Newfoundland and Rhode Island in the east. This species is primarily one of coniferous forest areas and is fairly widely distributed although it is rarely found or reported. The new locations reported here are from the northern limit of the species' range in North America. The species has been found in six places in Alberta. My observations were made on four collections at three different locations (Figure 1), where it was growing in recesses under upturned roots of toppled trees in moist, ric
Size: 1185px × 2108px
Photo credit: © Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookauthorottawafieldnaturalistsclub, bookcentury1900, bookcolle
