Plagiothecium novogranatense (Hampe) Mitt.
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Authority
Buck, William R. & Ireland, Robert R. 1989. Plagiotheciaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 50: 1-23. (Published by NYBG Press)
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Family
Plagiotheciaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type. Colombia. Cipacón, Aug 1861, Lindig s.n. (lectotype, BM; isolectotypes, BM-3).
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Synonyms
Hypnum novograntense Hampe, Hypnum brasiliense Hampe, Hypnum schraderi Müll.Hal., Plagiothecium bellirete Müll.Hal., Plagiothecium lepidopiladelphus Müll.Hal.
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Description
Species Description - Plants medium-sized to rather large, in mostly dense mats. Stems creeping to ca. 5 cm long, ± turgid, somewhat to distinctly complanate-foliate, usually only obscurely so. Leaves closely spaced or less often more distantly spaced, spreading, ovate to broadly oblong-ovate, 1.1-2.0 mm long, short-acuminate; margins plane or erect in lower 2/3, entire or with a few small teeth at extreme apex; cells linear, subflexuose, 115-200 x 6-9 µi, thin- to firm-walled; alar cells few, gradually and poorly differentiated; decurrencies very small, often difficult to demonstrate, when present usually only 1-3 rectangular, scarcely enlarged cells, cells 17-22 µm wide. Autoicous. Perichaetial leaves broadly oblong, abruptly and broadly short-acuminate, upper cells to 12 µm wide. Setae 2-2.5 cm long, reddish, twisted; capsules inclined to cemuous, sometimes arcuate, cylindric, 2-2.5 mm long, smooth; exothecial cells irregularly short-rectangular, firm-to thick-walled; operculum conic; exostome teeth striate-papillose below, papillose above; endostome finely papillose, basal membrane high, segments keeled, perforate, cilia 2-3. Spores 11-14 µm in diam., finely papillose.
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Discussion
Plagiothecium novo-granatense is a relatively rare species of high elevations. It is distinguished by relatively robust plants which are only obscurely complanate; the leaves are short-acuminate with cells about 8 wide. The most distinctive feature, though, is the meager leaf decurrency development. Many leaves are not decurrent but some leaf decurrencies can be found on every stem. When present they are only of one to three rectangular cells. Plagiothecium novo-granatense is only likely to be confused with P. drepanophyllum, which is its more northern counterpart. In that species, however, every leaf has decurrencies and the plants are mostly more complanate with more distantly spaced, often more or less falcate-secund leaves.
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Distribution
Andean Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Argentina; SE Brazil.
Colombia South America| Antioquia Colombia South America| Boyacá Colombia South America| Cauca Colombia South America| Cundinamarca Colombia South America| Ecuador South America| Napo Ecuador South America| Pastaza Ecuador South America| Peru South America| Cusco Peru South America| Huánuco Peru South America| Bolivia South America| Brazil South America|