Syrrhopodon parasiticus (Brid.) Besch.
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Authority
Reese, William D. 1993. Calymperaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 58: 1-102. (Published by NYBG Press)
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Family
Calymperaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type. Jamaica. Swartz s.n. (holotype, BM; isotype NY).
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Synonyms
Bryum parasiticum Sw. ex Brid., Calymperes swartzii Arn., Calymperes filigerum Austin, Syrrhopodon wainioi Broth., Calymperes semilimbatulum Müll.Hal., Syrrhopodon martinicensis Broth.
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Description
Species Description - Plants dark-green, solitary, in clusters of a few or gregarious; rhizoids brown; stems to 2 cm tall but mostly much shorter, not much forked. Leaves to 5 mm or more long, involute and incurved when dry, basically dimorphic, vegetative ones lingulate-lanceolate, gemmiferous ones broadly lanceolate to triangular and clustered in comae at stem tips; margins entire, mostly bordered at least in part with elongate, hyaline cells, sometimes unbordered; cancellinae distinct, distally acute; median cells ca. 7 µm, smooth to unipapillose dorsally and ventrally; gemmae filamentous, borne ventrally along costa from near cancellinae to leaf tip. Seta reddish, 3-4 mm long; capsule 1-2 mm long; peristome teeth irregular, blunt; operculum ca. 1 mm long. Spores 24-36 µm, irregular in shape, granular. Calyptra 3 mm long.
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Discussion
This is a well-marked taxon and is easy to recognize by its very acute cancellinae, dimorphic leaves with filamentous gemmae on the larger ones, and often incomplete border of hyaline cells—completely lacking in some specimens. The broad gemmiferous leaves often form distinctive comae at the stem tips. Syrrhopodon graminicola is similar but has pluripapillose cells and a complete distally toothed border. Syrrhopodon flexifolius is also similar but has a pinkish tinge in lower parts, usually completely bordered leaves, and much larger cells that are never distinctly papillose dorsally (although low remote indistinct dorsal papillae are rarely present). Syrrhopodon cymbifolins is like a miniature S. parasiticus but only rarely has comae of enlarged leaves. Small forms of S. parasiticus may be difficult to distinguish from S. cymbifolius when sterile. See comments under the latter name.
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Distribution
Pantropical; throughout tropical and subtropical America. A strict epiphyte on twigs, branches, trunks, and leaves in forests; to ca. 1600 m but most frequent at lower elevations.
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