Leucobryum giganteum Müll.Hal.

  • 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 giganteum Müll.Hal.

  • Description

    Species Description - Plants pale-green with a glaucous sheen, 8-12, sometimes 20 cm tall. Leaves falcate-secund to slightly flexuose, (14-)16-20 mm long, long-lanceolate, subtubulose above, with an apiculus consisting of a single green cell, entire or sparsely toothed near the tip; cross-sections near the alar regions showing (2-)3-4 layers of leucocysts at the middle and 2-4 layers both above and below the chlorocysts in the thickest portion; in surface view chlorocysts loosely reticulate, about 7-8:1, the leucocysts in the upper median region 2-3:1, rectangular; lamina composed of 8-10 rows of long-rectangular cells. Setae red to dark-brown, up to 3.5 cm long; capsules red to brown, strumose, contracted below the mouth Spores 16-20 µm.

  • Discussion

    Fig. 135

    L. giganteum C. Mull., Syn. Muse. Frond. 1: 79.1848.

    L. robustum Sull., Proc. Amer. Acad. 5: 279.1861.

    The plants are large, with a glaucous sheen and loosely arranged, falcate-secund leaves; the three to four layers of leucocysts at the middle of the leaf base contrast with the two found in all other Mexican species.

  • Distribution

    On moist rock (and probably also on humus and decaying logs) in forests; Oaxaca (N of Oaxaca on road to Llano de las Flores).—Mexico to northern South America; West Indies.

    West Indies| Mexico North America| Brazil South America| Bolivia South America| Peru South America| Ecuador South America| Colombia South America| Venezuela South America| Guyana South America| Suriname South America| French Guiana South America|