Fissidens diplodus Mitt. var. diplodus
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Authority
Sharp, Aaron J., et al. 1994. The Moss Flora of Mexico. Part One: Sphagnales to Bryales. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 69 (1): 1-452.
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Family
Fissidentaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Plants pale-green, up to 6 mm long, erect to decumbent and ascending, mostly branching from above. Leaves lanceolate to oblong, infrequently ovate, up to 1.8 mm long but usually shorter, acute, often cuspidate; margins crenulate to serrulate, bordered on perichaetial leaves and 1-2 pairs immediately below them, the border usually 1/2-2/3 the length of the vaginant laminae, sometimes difficult to see; costa percurrent or ending 2-4 cells below the apex, sometimes in the cusp; dorsal lamina usually rounded below, ending at the insertion; vaginant laminae unequal, often the smaller of each pair rounded above; laminal cells irregularly hexagonal, 6-8 µm, with long, single or forked papillae. Mostly gonioautoicous or cladautoicous, infrequently rhizautoicous. Perigonial branches generally in axils of leaves just beneath the perichaetia. Setae terminal on main stems and branches, up to ca. 1.5 mm long; capsules erect and symmetric, cylindric, pale; opercula rostrate, 1/2 or less the length of the urn; peristome teeth fragile, erect, undivided, finely papillose to vertically ridged below, sharply and densely papillose to verruculose above. Spores 20-25 µm, minutely papillose. Calyptrae cucullate, smooth.
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Discussion
Fig. 50a-f
F. diplodus Mitt., J. Linn. Soc, Bot. 12: 589. 1869.
F. muriculatus Spmce ex Mitt., J. Linn. Soc, Bot. 12: 593. 1869.
Moenkemeyera richardsii Williams, Kew Bull. 8: 319. 1934.
Fissidens diplodus var. richardsii (Williams) Pursell, Bryologist 83: 256. 1980.
Fissidens diplodus can best be recognized by pale, cylindric capsules and erect, undivided peristome teeth. When sporophytes are absent, the pale-green color, corticolous habitat, rather numerous budlike perigonial branches, perichaetial leaves bordered on the vaginant laminae, and unipapillose cells separate this species from others of the section Semilimbidium. Grout's report (1943) of F. cylindraceus Mitt. from Veracruz, based on Murrill & Murrill 95 (NY) can be referred to F. diplodus.
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Distribution
On moist, shaded tree trunks at elevations of 1000-2500 m; Chiapas, Oaxaca, San Luis Potosi, Tamaulipas, Veracmz.—Mexico; Central America; northern South America; West Indies
West Indies| Brazil South America| Peru South America| Ecuador South America| Colombia South America| Venezuela South America| Guyana South America| Suriname South America| French Guiana South America| Central America| Mexico North America|