Barbula unguiculata Hedw.

  • 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

    Barbula unguiculata Hedw.

  • Description

    Species Description - Plants yellow-green above, tan below, 10-20 mm high. Stems red-brown. Leaves incurved-contorted when dry, wide-spreading when moist, up to 2.5 mm long, long-ligulate to broadly lanceolate from an oblong base, rounded to broadly acute at the apex, narrowly grooved at the costa; margins recurved in the lower third to half; costa excurrent as an apiculus, with 2 stereid bands, (2-)4 median guide cells in 1 layer, hydroids present, epidermal cells on both surfaces elongate, with scattered simple papillae; upper cells in longitudinal rows, 8-13 µm, quadrate to hexagonal, bulging on both surfaces, with papillae crowded, 3-4 per lumen and bifid (or occasionally poorly developed); basal cells differentiated across the leaf, rectangular, 10-15 µm wide and 2-4:1, with walls thin to evenly thickened. Perichaetial leaves little differentiated, up to 2.5 mm long, long-oblong, weakly sheathing; cells elongate in the lower half to two-thirds. (Mexican material without sporophytes.)

  • Discussion

    Fig. 214

    B. unguiculata Hedw., Sp. Muse. 118. 1801.

    This species is best recognized by its abruptly apiculate leaves. It differs from B. orizabensis in having leaf tips obtuse to acute, margins recurved in the lower two-thirds or less, and propagula absent.

  • Distribution

    On soil in disturbed areas; Durango (13 km S of Las Nieves, Bowers etal. 6283-d, TENN), Nuevo Leon (near Chipinque, ca. 14.5 km NW of Monterrey, Hermann 26028, BUF, TENN; 26035, US).-Mexico; widespread in northern and southern temperate zones but rare in the tropics; common in the eastern United States, occasional in the West.

    México Mexico North America|