Leucobryum albidum (Brid. ex P.Beauv.) Lindb.

  • 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

    Leucobryaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Leucobryum albidum (Brid. ex P.Beauv.) Lindb.

  • Description

    Species Description - Plants light-green, light-brown, or whitish, up to 3 cm tall. Leaves crowded, erect or often spreading, 1.5-4 mm long, ovate-lanceolate, often incurved at the margins to subtubulose above, acute, apiculate because of a single green cell; crosssection through the alar regions showing 2 layers of leucocysts at the middle and in the thickest portion 1 or occasionally 2 layers above and 2 below the chlorocysts; in surface view chlorocysts loosely reticulate, about as long as wide, several-angled, the leucocysts in the upper median region short-rectangular, about 2-4:1; lamina of 6-10 rows of rectangular, thin-walled cells on either side of the costa at base, the outer row sometimes long-rectangular. Deciduous leaves often present in dense clusters at the stem tips, about 2 mm long, straight or falcate, with green apical cells. Setae up to 2 cm tall, dark-red to dark-brown; capsules usually strumose, 1.5-2 mm long. Spores 14-18 µm.

  • Discussion

    Fig. 130

    L. albidum (Brid. ex P.-Beauv.) Lindb., Ofvers. Forh. Svenska Vetensk.-Akad. 20: 403. 1863.

    Dicranum albidum Brid. ex P.-Beauv., Prodr. Aetheog. 52. 1805.

    D. glaucum var. albidum (Brid. ex P.-Beauv.) Brid., Bryol. Univ. 1: 409.1826.

    Leucobryum vulgare var. minus Hampe, Linnaea 13: 42. 1839.

    L. sediforme C. Mull., Syn. Muse Frond. 1: 75. 1848.

    L. minus (Hampe) Sull. in Gray, Man. Bot. ed. 2, 624. 1856.

    L. pumilum Britt, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 19: 190. 1892.

    L. glaucum var. albidum (Brid. ex P. Beauv.) Card., Ann. Missouri Bot. Gard. 8:55. 1897.

    With its compact growth and short leaves, Leucobryum albidum can be confused with Terrestria incurvifolia, but the acute, green-apiculate leaves, not at all cucullate at the apex, aid in determination. Leaf bases (at the level of the alar cells) having no more than four layers of leucocysts provide distinction from L. antillarum.

  • Distribution

    Usually on moist soil or bases of trees, not common; Chiapas, Puebla, Tamaulipas, Veracruz.—Mexico; West Indies; Brazil; eastern United States.

    Mexico North America| West Indies| Brazil South America| United States of America North America|