Grimmia rivularis Brid.

  • 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

    Grimmiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Grimmia rivularis Brid.

  • Description

    Species Description - Plants in dull, dark-green, brown, or blackish, rigid tufts about 1-2 cm high, rarely more. Leaves erect when dry, erect-spreading when moist, 1.5-2.5 mm long, keeled, oblong-ovate to ovate-lanceolate, broadly obtuse or acute, muticous or sometimes ending in a short, hyaline point; margins revolute below, thickened and often irregularly notched-denticulate above; costa subpercurrent, sometimes ± papillose at back above; upper cells 7-9 µm, irregularly subquadrate, thick-walled. Autoicous. Perichaetial leaves erect, longer and broader (3-4 mm long), often hyaline-tipped. Setae 0.6-1 mm long, straight; capsules immersed, erect and symmetric, 1-1.5 mm long, oblong-cylindric and wide-mouthed to subhemispheric; annulus none; columella falling with the shortto long-rostrate operculum; peristome teeth red or brownish, especially with age, ± perforate above, finely papillose. Spores 9—18(—23) µm. Calyptrae small, mitrate.

  • Discussion

    Fig. 291

    G. rivularis Brid., J. Bot. (Gott.) 1800,1(2): 276. 1801.

    G. alpicola var. rivularis (Brid.) Wahl., Fl. Lapp. 320. 1812.

    G. alpicola auct., non Hedw., 1801.

    Schistidium rivulare (Brid.) Podp., Beih. Bot. Centralbl. 28:207. 1911.

    Grimmia rivularis is a calciphile. It is dull and very dark-green or brown, even blackish. The leaves are generally muticous, although occasionally the uppermost leaves are hyaline-tipped but scarcely awned. The margins may be notched and the back of the costa papillose, as in G. apocarpa var. gracilis. The latter grows in deep, loose, red-brown tufts and has leaves commonly, but not always awned.

  • Distribution

    In rock crevices at 2800 m alt.; Baja California (Sierra San Pedro Martir, Sharp et al. 5677, MICH). —Northwestern Mexico; widespread in North America and elsewhere in the Northern Hemisphere; Ecuador; Australia; central Africa.

    North America| Ecuador South America| Australia Oceania| Africa|