Tortula brevipes (Lesq.) Broth.
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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.
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Family
Pottiaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Plants small, 1-3 mm high, in loose, brownish-green, often hoary tufts. Gemmae occasional on rhizoids, irregular in shape, brown. Leaves infolded and twisted around the stem (but not contorted) when dry, erect-spreading when moist, 1.5-2 mm long and 0.5-0.75 mm wide, lingulate to spatulate (often appearing narrower because of strongly revolute margins), emarginate, truncate, or acute; margins strongly revolute to the apex, entire; costa strong, brown or yellow, smooth or finely papillose at back, excurrent into a smooth, brown to hyaline hair point 1/4-3/4 or sometimes as long as the lamina (or occasionally reduced to a mere apiculus); upper cells 9-12 µm, irregularly polygonal, moderately thick-walled but not collenchymatous, obscure, somewhat bulging, with 4-8 papillae per cell; marginal cells not differentiated or somewhat smoother and thicker-walled (sometimes quite distinctly differentiated); basal cells rather abruptly differentiated, often with thickened cross walls, narrower and somewhat shorter toward the margins. Dioicous or autoicous. Setae 10-15 mm long, red; capsules 2-3(-4) mm long, straight or slightly curved, with a distinct neck, red-brown; operculum 1-1.5 mm long, red; peristome 0.75-1 mm long, the upper divisions red, strongly twisted in 1-2 turns, the basal membrane white, conspicuous, 1/4-1/2 the total length. Spores 9-14 µm, smooth or finely papillose. Calyptrae ca. 2.5 mm long, yellow, becoming red at maturity.
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Discussion
Fig. 244
T. brevipes (Lesq.) Broth, in E. & P., Nat. Pfl. 1(3): 431. 1902.
Barbula brevipes Lesq., Mem. Calif. Acad. 1: 12. 1868.
Distinguishing characteristics are provided b y leaves with entire, strongly revolute margins, pluripapillose cells, and smooth hair points. Reports of Tortula muralis Hedw. from northern Baja California seem to belong to T. brevipes because of peristomes with well-developed basal tubes. However, the species d o intergrade in capsule length and shape, development of basal tube, and expression of a leaf border. In fact, plants with a high basal tube typical of T. brevipes often have well-marked borders. It is probable that T. brevipes is no more than a partially distinct local variant of the wideranging T. muralis.
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Distribution
Locally frequent, on soil and rock at low elevations; Baja California and Sonora.—Northwestern Mexico and western United States.
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