Aongstroemia filiformis (P.Beauv.) Wijk & Margad.

  • 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

    Dicranaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Aongstroemia filiformis (P.Beauv.) Wijk & Margad.

  • Description

    Species Description - Plants slender but elongate (2-6 cm high), loosely tufted, terete, shiny, yellowish or brownish. Leaves 4-6 mm long, abruptly subulate from an oblong base; margins subentire; costa (in upper leaves) excurrent as a smooth awn; upper cells linear-vermicular (47-85 x 9 µm). Setae 3-5 mm long, sometimes paired; capsules emergent to slightly exserted beyond the tips of the perichaetial leaves, 1.5-2 mm long, narrowly cylindric; annulus none; peristome teeth reddish, bifid to the middle, perforate below, papillose. Spores 12-16 um, nearly smooth.

  • Discussion

    Fig. 83a-d

    A. filiformis (P.-Beauv.) Wijk & Marg., Taxon 9: 50.1960.

    Dicranum filiforme P.-Beauv., Prodr. Aetheog. 53. 1805.

    Weissia vulcanica Brid., Muscol. Recent. Suppl. 1: 124. 1806.

    Aongstroemia vulcanica (Brid.) C. Mull., Syn. Muse Frond. 1: 427. 1848.

    A. brevipesWampe ex Besch., Mem. Soc. Sci. Nat. Cherbourg 16:163. 1872, nom. sol.

    A. jamaicensis C. Mull., Bull. Herb. Boissier 5: 554. 1897.

    The long, flexuose stems and abruptly subulate-awned leaves with vermicular cells are highly distinctive.

  • Distribution

    On moist, often clayey soil at rather high altitudes; Veracruz (Pico de Orizaba).—Mexico; Guatemala and Costa Rica; Jamaica and Puerto Rico; Madagascar. Reunion, and South Africa

    Mexico North America| Guatemala Central America| Costa Rica South America| Jamaica South America| Puerto Rico South America| Madagascar Africa| South America|