Luisierella barbula (Schwägr.) Steere

  • 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

    Luisierella barbula (Schwägr.) Steere

  • Description

    Species Description - Plants 1.5-2 mm high. Leaves about 1—1.5(—2) mm long; costa ending 4-5 cells below leaf tip; upper cells 8-12 µm, irregularly rounded-hexagonal and often slightly wider than long. Polygamous. Setae 4-5(-9) mm long; µm of capsule 1.25-2 mm long; operculum about 0.7-1 mm long; peristome teeth very short and irregular (sometimes apparently none). Spores 8-9 µm, smooth or nearly so.

  • Discussion

    Fig. 286

    L. barbula (Schwaegr.) Steere, Bryologist 48: 84. 1945.

    Gymnostomum barbula Schwaegr., Sp. Muse. Suppl. 2,2(1): 77. 1826.

    Trichostomum brevicaule Hampe ex C. Miill., Syn. Muse. Frond. 1: 567. 1849.

    Gyroweisia brevicaulis (Hampe ex C. Mull.) Broth, in E. & P., Nat. Pfl. 1(3): 389. 1902.

    Luisierella is distinctive in having lingulate leaves rounded at the tip, with abruptly inflated basal cells extending upward a short distance along the margins in a manner suggestive of Tortella. The small, green, bulging upper cells offer a striking contrast to the pale, smooth basal cells. Most descriptions indicate that Luisierella is dioicous, but close examination reveals that sporophyte-bearing plants lack antheridia, while non-fruiting plants may be entirely archegoniate or entirely synoicous, or have both argechoniate and synoicous inflorescences on the same plant. Thus, plants that fruit are apparently outcrossers.

  • Distribution

    On moist limestone at lower elevations; Campeche, Hidalgo, San Luis Potosi, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Yucatan.—Eastern Mexico; Belize; Brazil; Bermuda; Bahamas, Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, and Puerto Rico; Rorida, Georgia, and Texas.

    Mexico North America| Belize Central America| Brazil South America| Bermuda South America| Bahamas South America| Cuba South America| Jamaica South America| Haiti South America| Puerto Rico South America| United States of America North America|