Tortella humilis (Hedw.) Jenn.

  • 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

    Pottiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Tortella humilis (Hedw.) Jenn.

  • Description

    Species Description - Plants green or yellow-green, 5-10 mm high. Stems rounded-pentagonal in section, with central strand and hyaloderm variously differentiated. Leaves incurved-contorted when dry, wide-spreading when moist, 2.5-3.5 mm long, lingulate to broadly oblong-lanceolate, broadly acute and short-apiculate; margins sometimes fractured; costa covered on the ventral surface by short, papillose cells (or occasionally by long, smooth cells in the upper 1/4) and on the dorsal surface by elongate, smooth cells; upper laminal cells 7-10 µm , bulging and bearing 3-6 simple or bifid papillae on both surfaces; basal cells often bulging, rectangular to rhomboidal, 15-23 µm wide and 3-5:1. Autoicous, occasionally both autoicous and paroicous. Perigonia axillary, stalked and flattened. Setae 9-13 mm long; capsules 2-3 mm long; annulus of 4 rows of vesiculose cells, persistent; operculum 1-1.3 mm long; peristome up to 1.2 mm long, twisted 2-3 times. Spores 10-13 µm, yellow-brown, papillose.

  • Discussion

    Fig. 176

    T. humilis (Hedw.) Jenn., Man. Mosses W. Penn. 96. 1913.

    Barbula humilis Hedw., Sp. Muse. 116. 1801.

    B. caespitosaSchwaegr., Sp. Muse. Suppl.l(l): 120. 1811.

    ?B. caespitosa var. abbreviata Schimp. ex Besch., Mem. Soc. Sci. Nat. Cherbourg 16: 182. 1872, nom. nud.

    Tortella caespitosa (Schwaegr.) Limpr., Laubm. Deutschl. 1: 600. 1888.

    The broad leaf tips are distinctive.

  • Distribution

    On banks of soil and on limestone rock, occasionally on bases of trees at moderate elevations; Chiapas, Coahuila, Distrito Federal, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Michoacan, Nayarit, Nuevo Leon, Oaxaca, Queretaro, San Luis Potosi, Tamaulipas, Veracruz.—Mexico; Guatemala; Cuba, Jamaica, and Haiti; northern South America; eastern North America; Europe and North Africa.

    Algeria Africa| Egypt Africa| Libya Africa| Morocco Africa| Tunisia Africa| Europe| North America| Venezuela South America| Colombia South America| Guyana South America| Suriname South America| French Guiana South America| Brazil South America| Haiti South America| Jamaica South America| Cuba South America| Guatemala Central America| Mexico North America|