Diverseleaf Small Limestone Moss

Seligeria diversifolia occurs on stones in arctic Alaska, then south along the western mountains into the Yukon, and is found on cliff faces from a few stations in eastern North America. It is slender and stiff with differentiated perichaetial leaves, and a straight to slightly curved seta when moist, while the similar S. campylopoda has curved-twisted leaves, no differentiated perichaetial leaves, and a markedly curved seta when moist.

Plants tiny, olive green. Leaves ovate-oblong to broadly ligulate, gradually narrowed, obtuse, costa ending before apex, margins entire; leaf cells (1-)2:1; perichae-tial leaves sharply contracted to stout, short subula from clasping base, strongly differentiated. Seta 2-2.5 mm, twisted, curved when moist, ± straight when dry, slender. Capsule ovate-oblong to oblong, longer than broad, not widest at mouth; peristome of 16 well-developed teeth; columella immersed. Spores 9-11 µm.

Plants very small, only to 2.0 mm high, yellow, in compact tufts. Stems erect, simple. Leaves imbricate and concave; oblong-ovate and obtuse, gradually becoming larger toward the stem apex on sterile plants; margins entire; costa strong, percurrent or excurrent, not filling subula; cells smooth, rectangular at base, short and qudarate above. Autoicous. Perichaetial leaves sheathing at base, abruptly narrowed to a stout, short subula. Setae elongate, straight, twisted or curved when dry, almost straight when moist; capsules ovoid to oblong-ovoid, somewhat asymmetric. Other features are the same as those described in the generic description.

Distribution: China, Ukraine, Europe, Greenland, and North America.

Habitat: on calcareous rocks in high mountains, often mixed with other mosses.