Warnstorfia sarmentosa (Wahlenb.) Hedenäs

  • Authority

    Hedenäs, Lars. 2003. Amblystegiaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 89: 1--107. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Campyliaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Warnstorfia sarmentosa (Wahlenb.) Hedenäs

  • Type

    Type. Norway. Nordland: Mt. Kronan near Rörstad, Jun 1807, Wahlenberg misit s.n. (lectotype, S, designated by Hedenas, 1993a; isolectotypes, S [2]).

  • Synonyms

    Hypnum sarmentosum Wahlenb., Calliergon sarmentosum (Wahlenb.) Kindb., Sarmentypnum sarmentosum (Wahlenb.) Tuom. & T.J.Kop.

  • Description

    Species Description - Plants medium-sized to large; with red or dark red secondary coloration, sometimes completely green. Stem often sparsely branched; hyalodermis absent; pseudoparaphyllia broadly ovate to broader than long; axillary hairs with l-4(-5)-celled upper part, this hyaline when young. Stem leaves straight, loosely imbricate to erect-spreading, oblong or ovate or elongate-ovate, narrowing ± abruptly in upper part to apex, not plicate, concave; apex rounded- or acute-apiculate, with a short apiculus mostly present (at least in young leaves) often bent inward over leaf; margin entire or almost so, occasionally with one or a few indistinct, obtuse denticles near base of apiculus; costa single, ending 8095% of way up leaf; median laminal cells 25.0-136.5(-157.5) × 6.5-8.5 µm, ± incrassate and porose or weakly porose; alar cells inflated and hyaline (often colored when old); alar group indistinctly delimited, transverse-triangular, with cells ± gradually becoming strongly incrassate near the costa. Dioicous. Inner perichaetial leaves narrowing ± abruptly to short-acuminate or apiculate apex. Exostome outside reticulate in lower part. [Sporophytes not known from neotropical material.]

  • Discussion

    Warnstorfia sarmentosa was reported from Colombia, Peru, and Bolivia by Churchill & Linares (1995) and by Delgadillo et al. (1995). Although I have not seen any specimens correctly identified as either W sarmentosa or W. luipichensis from Peru (not reported from this country by Menzel, 1992), the geographical distributions of the two species suggest that reports from Peru and Bolivia most likely refer to W luipichensis. Warnstorfia sarmentosa is easily separated from the other S American species of the genus (except W luipichensis) by its oblong or ovate stem leaves, which narrow abruptly to a rounded apiculate or acute apiculate apex. The apiculus is most distinct in young leaves and is rarely lacking completely in these, but may be worn off in older leaves. Warnstorfia sarmentosa could be confused with Calliergon species, which, however, are unknown from tropical America and are larger, have broader leaves, and never get clear red colors, or with Straminergon stramineum. The characters separating W. sarmentosa from S. stramineum and W. luipichensis are given under the latter two species.

    Illustrations: Crum & Anderson (1981: p. 1009), Hedenäs (1993a: p. 454; 1993b: p. 43), Nyholm (1965: p. 455).

  • Distribution

    Venezuela (3500-3800 m a.s.l.) and Colombia (3650-3810 m). This species is also known from Paraguay (Kuc P-2, NY; found in collection of Drepanocladus polygamus), southernmost S America, and Antarctica. Widespread in arctic to boreal zones of N America and Eurasia, in mountainous areas of tropical and subtropical Asia and Africa, and in Australia and New Zealand. In intermediately mineral-rich and often spring-influenced mires, and lake and brook shores.

    Norway Europe| Venezuela South America| Colombia South America| Paraguay South America|