Two Crossidiums in Utah

Abstract

Two species of Crossidium, formerly known in this country from southern California to Arizona, have been found in Utah at widely separated stations. Crossidium griseum (Jur.) Jur. was collected on loam soil in an open juniperpinyon pine area near the ranch town of La Sal, San Juan County in southeastern Utah. About ten miles west, on the desert tableland bordering the Colorado River, there stands a conspicuous loaf-shaped red standstone butte about a half mile long and upwards to two hundred feet high, the base of which has been undercut by erosion on the north side. It is a familiar landmark known as Hatch Rock. Crossidium aberrans Holz. & Bartr. was found growing on dry sandy soil almost constantly shaded by the overhanging north wall of this butte. About two hundred and twenty miles southwest of these stations both species were encountered again in Washington County at the southwestern extremity of the state. Several collections were made west of the town of Hurricane on the foothills under low shelving sandstone ledges at a point called Berry Spring. In one instance both species were mixed in the same tuft. Over in Zion National Park, about twenty miles eastward, Crossidium griseum was taken from a red sandstone rock. Crossidium aberrans was gathered in several localities northward in the state, once in the House Mountains in Millard County and once again on Stansbury Island in Great Salt Lake, Tooele County. In both instances the plants were few in numbers mixed with other species of moss and in a rather depauperate condition although fruited. The finest collection of all was made by Dr. Lincoln Ellison in the town of Nephi, Juab County. It was growing in the shade at the base of a rock wall on loam soil and is a rather large, clean, olive-green tuft, hoary on the surface and well fruited.