Identification notes
Nogopterium gracile is one of a small group of pleurocarpous mosses that has two very different looking states, depending on whether plants are hydrated or desiccated. Like these species, which include Scorpiurium circinatum and Pterigynandrum filiforme, it has crowded branches which look worm-like and point in the same direction when dry.
N. gracile is however a straightforward species to identify under the microscope, when the unusually short mid-leaf cells, short double nerve and transversely rectangular basal cells are clear.
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