Bryocrumia vivicolor (Broth. & Dixon) W.R.Buck
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Authority
Buck, William R. 1987. Bryostephane Steereana: A Collection of Bryological Papers Presented to William Campbell Steere On The Occasion of His 80th Birthday. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 45: 1-749.
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Family
Hypnaceae
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Scientific Name
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Discussion
Taxithelium vivicolor Broth. & Dix. in Dix., Rec. Bot. Surv. India 6(3): 86. 1914. Type: INDIA. Mahableshwar: Western Ghats, 4000', Jan 1909, Sedgwick [23] (holotype, BM!).
Phyllodon and Taxiphyllum seem very closely related. Taxiphyllum differs by its acute (sometimes bluntly so) rather than truncate leaf apices, single-toothed margins, better developed alar regions and narrowly pointed laminar cells. Mittenothamnium is also involved in this relationship but differs in its differentiated branch and stem leaves, stipitate habit and often more strongly (singly) toothed leaf margins. All these genera belong in the Hypnaceae. Somewhat more confusing in its placement is Taxithelium. Its only claim to an alliance with the Sematophyllaceae is the slightly inflated alar cells in some species. It has none of the sporophytic features ofthe Sematophyllaceae, i.e., long-rostrate operculum, furrowed exostome teeth or coUenchymatous exothecial cells. Although intangible, it also lacks the golden color so diagnostic of most members ofthe family. For these reasons, as well as its obvious similarities to Phyllodon, especially P. scutellifolius, I think it might best be placed in the Hypnaceae. However, I lack the conviction, probably because of its traditional placement in the Sematophyllaceae, to positively transfer it at this time.