Sphagnum limbatum Mitt.

  • Authority

    Sharp, Aaron J., et al. 1994. The Moss Flora of Mexico. Part One: Sphagnales to Bryales. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 69 (1): 1-452.

  • Family

    Sphagnaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Sphagnum limbatum Mitt.

  • Description

    Species Description - Plants of moderate to relatively large size, soft, pale-green, pinkish above. Cortical cells of stem in 2-3 layers, those of the epidermal layer mostly porose at the upper ends; wood cylinder yellow-green. Stem leaves relatively large, narrowly oblong-triangular to lingulate, concave-acute, the narrow border not broadened at base; hyaline cells divided 1-several times in the lower half of the leaf, fibrillose in the upper half or more, on the outer surface with many ringed, elliptic, commissural pores, passing into large gaps below, on the inner surface with numerous large, thin-margined, porelike gaps, 4-5 above, more below. Branches in fascicles of 4 (2 spreading); retort cells with inconspicuous necks. Branch leaves broad and loosely spreading when dry, more concave and erect when moist, ovate, ± abmptly pointed, narrowly bordered by linear cells; hyaline cells on the outer surface very convex, with many ringed, elliptic, commissural pores, on the inner surface with 2, rarely 4 round, non-ringed spores, more numerous toward the leaf margins; green cells in section narrowly rectangular, equally exposed on both surfaces (but in surface view appearing to be exposed only on the inner surface).

  • Discussion

    Fig. 13

    S. limbatum Mitt., J. Linn. Soc, Bot. 12: 625. 1869.

    S. antillarum Besch., Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. VI, 3: 263. 1876.

    S. lesueuriiWarnst, Hedwigia29: 205. 1890, nom. illeg.

    S. tonduziiWarnst, Bot. Centralbl. 82: 40. 1900.

    S. limbatum var. antillarum (Besch.) Warnst. in Engler, Pflanzenreich 51: 112.1911.

    Remarkably similar to S. meridense in appearance and branch leaf sections, 5. limbatum has an abundance of large, ringed, elliptic, commissural pores on the outer surface branch leaves and only a few non-ringed pores on the inner. The stem leaves are long, narrow, concave-tipped, and scarcely bordered at the base. On the outer surface of stem of leaves, the hyaline cells show many large, round, ringed, commissural pores; on the inner surface are numerous large, round, non-ringed pores along the commissures, often very broad, sometimes nearly the cell width.

  • Distribution

    On wet banks at 1800 m alt.; Chiapas (Motozintlade Mendoza, Breedlove 55854, MICH) and Veracmz (La Piedra, W of Huayacocotla, Juarez 1025, NY).—Mexico; Guatemala and Costa Rica; northern South America; West Indies.

    Mexico North America| Guatemala Central America| Costa Rica South America| West Indies| Brazil South America| Peru South America| Ecuador South America| Colombia South America| Venezuela South America| Guyana South America| Suriname South America| French Guiana South America|