Squamidium

• Authority

  Sharp, Aaron J., et al. 1994. The Moss Flora of Mexico. Part Two: Orthotrichales to Polytrichales. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 69 (2)

• Family

  Brachytheciaceae

• Scientific Name

  Squamidium

• Description

  Genus Description - Plants robust, sometimes elongate, in loose, shiny, pale-green to brown or black, pendent masses. Secondary irregularly to subpinnately branched. Stem and branch leaves similar, erect, often spirally arranged, deeply concave, smooth, oblong-ovate to oval, abruptly apiculate to filiform-acuminate or hair-pointed; margins erect or inflexed above, entire or serrulate above; costa single, slender, ending well below the apex; cells linear, smooth, those at the base subquadrate to oblong, pitted, those at the basal angles quadrate and colored in small, distinctly differentiated alar groups. Setae short; capsules immersed to shortly exserted, ovoid; annulus persistent; exostome teeth ± papillose; endostome about as long as the teeth, consisting of narrow, keeled segments from a low membrane. Calyptrae mitrate.

• Discussion

  The genus is characterized by deeply concave, abruptly pointed leaves with a single costa, smooth cells, and small but distinct alar groups. For additional information, reference may be made to a recent revision by Allen and Crosby (1986b).