Leptodontium viticulosoides (Wijk & Margad.) P.Beauv. var. viticulosoides

  • 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

    Leptodontium viticulosoides (Wijk & Margad.) P.Beauv. var. viticulosoides

  • Description

    Species Description - Plants slender to robust, in loose, greenish to yellowishbrown tufts or mats. Stems 2-20 cm long, often tomentose (white above, red-brown below), not fluted in sectional view. Leaves erect to spreading, flexuose-twisted to contorted when dry, squarrose-recurved when moist, keeled above, ovate- to long-lanceolate, acute, ovate-sheathing at base, slightly decurrent; margins recurved in the upper 1/2-2/3 and dentate above; costa ending 3-5 cells below the apex, papillose dorsally in the upper half; upper cells 11-15 µm, subquadrate, with walls thickened at the corners (or rarely not much thickened), the papillae scattered over the lumen, low, simple to bifid; inner basal cells rectangular, 65-75 x 11-13 µm. Autoicous or occasionally dioicous. Setae (9-)16-22(-25) mm long; capsules (2.5-)3-3.5(-4) mm long; annulus of 4—8 layers of red-brown cells; operculum conic-rostrate, 1.2-1.5 mm long; peristome teeth linear, 250-400 µm long, 15-20 µm wide at base, red- to yellow-brown, lightly striate; preperistome occasional, up to 140 µm high. Spores lightly papillose, of 2 size classes: 17-20 µm (lenticular to tetrahedral, light brown and appearing aborted) and 23-25 p m or more (nearly spherical and translucent-green when fresh).

  • Discussion

    L. viticulosoides (P.-Beauv.) Wijk & Marg., Taxon 9: 51. 1960.

    Neckera viticulosoides P.-Beauv., Prodr. Aetheog. 78. 1805.

    Didymodon squarrosus Hook., Musci Exot. 2: pl. 150 (figs. 1-8). 1819.

    Leptodontium squarrosum (Hook.) Hampe ex Lindb., Ofvers. Forh. Svenska Vetensk.-Akad. 21: 227. 1864.

    Trichostomum sartorii C. Miill., Linnaea 38: 637. 1874.

    Barbula sartorii (C. Mull.) Jaeg., Ber. Thatigk. St. Gallischen Naturwiss. Ges. 1877-78: 407.1878.

    Desmatodon sartorii (C. Mull.) Par., Index Bryol. 319. 1894.

    The var. viticulosoides has autoicous inflorescences, heterogeneous spores, and leaf cells with low, hemispheric papillae. The var. sulphureum is dioicous and has homogeneous spores. The var. exasperatum has leaf cells with high, columnar papillae. The var. flagellaceum has flagellate branches in leaf axils.

  • Distribution

    On soil, rock, logs, and trees in mountainous regions at altitudes up to 3000, rarely 4000 m; Jalisco and Sinaloa.—Mexico; Central America; Andes of South America; southern Brazil; Africa, Madagascar, and Reunion; Himalayas; southeastern Asia, and Formosa.

    Mexico North America| Central America| Venezuela South America| Colombia South America| Ecuador South America| Peru South America| Bolivia South America| Chile South America| Argentina South America| Brazil South America| Africa| Asia| Taiwan Asia|