Tortula papillosa Wilson

  • 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

    Tortula papillosa Wilson

  • Description

    Species Description - Plants small, 1-4(-8) mm high, yellowish or brownish-green when dry, scattered or in small tufts. Gemmae borne on the upper surface of the costa, 4-10-celled, spherical or ovoid, smooth, brown when mature. Leaves incurved and slightly twisted when dry, erect to wide-spreading when moist, (1.5-) 2-3 mm long, 0.75-1.25 mm wide, spatulate, acute; margins incurved when dry, plane to erect when moist, entire (or occasionally serrulate near the apex); costa strong, yellow or red, rounded and sharply papillose at back, smooth on the upper surface, excurrent into a short, smooth or serrulate, yellowish or hyaline awn 1/8-1/5 the leaf length; upper cells 14-22 µm, isodiametric, rounded-hexagonal, rather thickthickwalled, collenchymatous, the papillae dorsal, single, simple (or rarely forked near the costa); apical cells elongate; basal cells gradually differentiated. (Sporophytes known only from Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand.)

  • Discussion

    Fig. 249

    T. papillosa Wils. ex Spruce, London J. Bot. 4: 193. 1845.

    The leaves have unipapillose cells, strongly serrate costae, and small, smooth, brown propagula borne on the upper surface of the costa. The plants resemble T. pagorum, but the position and nature of the propagula as well as the incurved leaf margins and roughened back of the costa distinguish T. papillosa.

  • Distribution

    Infrequent, on bark of trees or in rock crevices; Baja California, Coahuila, Nuevo Leon, Puebla, San Luis Potosi, Veracruz, Zacatecas.- Mexico; Colombia, Ecuador, and Brazil; Falkland Islands; eastern and southwestern United States; Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand; Europe; South Africa.

    Mexico North America| Colombia South America| Ecuador South America| Brazil South America| United States of America North America| Queensland Australia Oceania| New Zealand Europe| South Africa Africa|