Fissidens hyalinus Hook. & Wilson

  • 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.

  • Family

    Fissidentaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Fissidens hyalinus Hook. & Wilson

  • Description

    Species Description - Plants pale-green, minute, up to ca. 1.5 mm tall, unbranched, erect to decumbent. Leaves up to ca. 0.7 mm long, narrowly oblong to ovate, acute, often apiculate; margins entire, bordered on all laminae, the border only 1 cell wide, ending below the apex; costa nearly absent; dorsal lamina ending at the insertion; vaginant laminae small, ± equal; cells large, (29-)36-47(-58) u m long and (11-)22-25(-29) u m wide, thin-walled, smooth, and flaccid, mostly irregularly hexagonal, a few rhombic and pentagonal, often oblong near margins. [Autoicous. Setae terminal, 1-2.5 mm long, hyaline and delicate, bent at the base; capsules 0.4-0.7 mm long, erect, brownish; annulus of 1-2 rows of small, persistent cells; opercula rostrate, about 0.4-0.5 mm long; peristome teeth minutely papillose below, spirally thickened above. Spores 10-12 µm. - From Crum & Anderson, 1981.]

  • Discussion

    Fig. 58

    F. hyalinus Hook. & Wils., Hook. J. Bot. 3: 89. 1840.

    The plants are recognized by their small size and nearly ecostate leaves. T h e species is probably more common than it appears to be; it is easily overlooked because it is so difficult to see. The Mexican collections were detected in mixture with another species of Fissidens.

  • Distribution

    On moist, shaded clay soil with F. papillosus and F. crispus; Michoacan and Oaxaca.—Mexico; Cuba; Pem; eastern United States (Kentucky, Louisiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania); Japan, Taiwan, and India.

    Mexico North America| Cuba South America| United States of America North America| Japan Asia| Taiwan Asia| India Asia|