Bryophytes of Santa Barbara

Timmiella crassinervis (Hampe) L. F. Koch

Timmiella crassinervis is a relatively large, bright green, acrocarpous moss, with long, relatively broad, lance-shaped leaves, with a matte finish. When dry, the leaf margins roll inward and the leaves curl up, giving the appearance of tiny, shiny, noodles. Plants may form tufts or carpets on soil, in some sun to shade.

Scroll down for more photos (click to enlarge) and descriptions of habitat, plants, leaves, sporophytes, distribution map, name origin, and similar species.

Timmiella crassinervis — Timmiella crassinervis CC BY-NC Amanda Heinrich

Habitat: Timmiella crassinervis is found on soil, commonly along trails and road cuts, but also along creeks.

Timmiella crassinervis habitat moist — A moist carpet of Timmiella crassinervis on soil in February (CAH #1056). CC BY-NC Amanda Heinrich

Timmiella crassinervis habitat dry — The same carpet of Timmiella crassinervis dry on soil in June (CAH #1056). CC BY-NC Amanda Heinrich

Habit: Timmiella crassinervis plants may be short when more exposed (0.5 mm) to rather tall when more shaded (1.5 mm), are mostly unbranched, and form tufts or carpets.

Timmiella crassinervis moist — Timmiella crassinervis bright green lush carpet, moist in February (CAH #1056). CC BY-NC Amanda Heinrich

Timmiella crassinervis dry — The same Timmiella crassinervis carpet, dry in June, now brownish-green and nubby (CAH #1056). CC BY-NC Amanda Heinrich

Plants: Timmiella crassinervis plants are erect and unbranched, up to 1-1.5 mm tall. The long outer leaves are outstretched when moist, often times surrounding shorter more erect central leaves, giving a somewhat floral appearance. When moist, plants are a bright, cheery green with a matte finish. When dry, the leaf margins roll in and leaves curl up, resembling shiny, curly olive-green noodles.

Timmiella crassinervis moist — Timmiella crassinervis plants moist in February, bright matte green, margins appearing thickened as they are beginning to roll in (CAH #1056). CC BY-NC Amanda Heinrich

Timmiella crassinervis dry — Timmiella crassinervis plants dry in June, leaves inrolled and curled up like shiny olive green-brown noodles (CAH #1056). CC BY-NC Amanda Heinrich

Timmiella crassinervis plants moist — Timmiella crassinervis individual plants moistened, with broadly lanceolate leaves unfurled; four above collected in June, four below collected in February, same population (CAH #1030 and #1056). CC BY-NC Amanda Heinrich

Timmiella crassinervis plants dry — Timmiella crassinervis individual plants dry, with inrolled and curled noodle-like (tubulose) leaves; four above collected in June, four below collected in February, same population (CAH #1030 and #1056). CC BY-NC Amanda Heinrich

Leaves: Timmiella crassinervis leaves are quite long and broadly lanceolate, with margins serrated near the tip, a very wide costa, and a flared base. When moist they are bright green and matte, and when just beginning to dry the margins appear thickened as they begin to roll in. When dry, margins roll completely in and leaves curl up, looking like shiny noodles. Leaves are bistratose, with two layers of cells. The upper layer of cells (adaxial, facing the stem) bulge out (mammilose), contributing to the matte appearance when leaves are moist and unfurled and viewed from above. The lower layer of cells are smooth, contributing to the shiny appearance when dry and curled and the lower surface is exposed.

Timmiella crassinervis leaf — Timmiella crassinervis leaf, broadly lanceolate with wide costa and flared base, magnified 100x (CAH #1013). Photos stitched, CC BY-NC Amanda Heinrich

Timmiella crassinervis leaf cross-section — Timmiella crassinervis leaf cross section, showing bulging mammilose cells on upper (adaxial) surface, magnified 400x (CAH #1013). CC BY-NC Amanda Heinrich

Sporophytes: Timmiella crassinervis sporophytes are tall and relatively straight, with the seta (stalk) about 1 cm long (0.8-1.2 cm), the capsule urn (theca) about 2 mm (2-2.8mm), the operculum (cap) 0.6-0.8 mm, and the peristome teeth mostly not twisted. Sporophytes are not common on plants here in Santa Barbara County, and are technically required to separate Timmiella crassinervis from Timmiella anomola. In the absence of sporophytes one must rely on the flaring of the leaf base, which may not be a reliable character.

Timmiella crassinervis mature sporophytes — Timmiella crassinervis sporophytes in the field in June (CAH #1013). CC BY-NC Amanda Heinrich

Timmiella crassinervis plants with sporophytes — Timmiella crassinervis sporophytes at home, setae 1 cm, urn 2 mm, operculum 0.6 mm, peristome not twisted (CAH #1013). CC BY-NC Amanda Heinrich

Timmiella crassinervis immature sporophytes — Timmiella crassinervis immature sporophytes in the field in April, (CAH #1090). CC BY-NC Amanda Heinrich

Timmiella crassinervis dry with sporophytes — Timmiella crassinervis same plants dry in November, sporophytes matured and spent. CC BY-NC Amanda Heinrich

Distribution: Timmiella crassinervis is found throughout the west coast of North America.

Timmiella crassinervis distribution — Timmiella crassinervis collections. Map generated by google maps using data from the Consortium of Bryophyte Herbaria of accessioned collections from herbaria.

Similar Species in Santa Barbara County

Timmiella anomola, which has been reported for Santa Barbara County, has taller sporophytes (1.5-2.5 cm setae) with larger capsules (theca 3-4 mm long) and longer operculae (1-1.5 mm), and with twisted persitome teeth. In addition, the leaf base is not flared, rather it is narrower or just a bit wider than the leaf itself.

Name: Mosses in the genus Timmiella resemble those in the genus Timmia but are more petite. Timmia in turn, is named for the German botanist, Joachim Christian Timm (1734-1805). The specific epithet, crassinervis, is derived from the Latin word crassus for solid, thick or dense, and nerve, referring to the sturdy leaf midrib (costa).

References and Further Reading

Timmiella crassinervis, Richard H. Zander, Flora of North America Vol. 27, www.efloras.org

California Mosses, Bill and Nancy Malcolm, Jim Shevock and Dan Norris. Available for purchase from the California Native Plant Society here.

Contributions toward a Bryoflora of California II. A Key to the Mosses, Daniel H. Norris and James R. Shevock, Madrono 51(2): 133-269. 2004. Available for purchase here.