Grimmia laevigata (Brid.) 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 laevigata (Brid.) Brid.

  • Description

    Species Description - Stems up to 15 mm high. Leaves imbricate when dry, erect-spreading when moist, not keeled, 1-1.6 mm long (exclusive of hair points up to 1.5 mm long), oblong-lanceolate to oblong-ovate, with a long, ± spinulose hair point that is conspicuously broadened at base and decurrent; margins plane or erect, not thicker than the lamina; costa percurrent, flat, weak; cells bistratose except at the leaf base, sometimes 3-stratose in streaks, the upper and median rounded-quadrate, 6-9 µm, thick-walled but not sinuose; basal cells short and green, a few near the costa elongate, not sinuose, the basal marginal cells quadrate to transversely elongate and thickwalled. Dioicous. Perichaetial leaves similar to upper leaves or larger, up to 2.5 mm long, long hair-pointed. Setae straight and erect, twisted, 2-2.6 mm long; capsules emergent, about 1.2 mm long, ovoid, smooth; annulus deciduous, of 2-3 layers of cells; operculum with a short, straight beak; peristome teeth reddish, irregularly divided to cribose above, with papillae often in lines. Spores 10-14 µm, smooth or nearly so. Calyptrae ± cucullate (but deeply lobed).

  • Discussion

    Fig. 292

    G. laevigata (Brid.) Brid., Bryol. Univ. 1: 183. 1826.

    Campylopus laevigatus Brid., Muscol. Recent. Suppl. 4: 76. 1819.

    Grimmia campestris Burch. ex Hook., Musci Exot. 2: pl. 129. 1819.

    G. leucophaea Grev., Mem. Wern. Nat. Hist. Soc. 4: 87. 1822.

    G. sarcocalyxKindb. exMacoun & Kindb., Cat. Canad. Pl. 6:66. 1892.

    Distinguishing features of G. laevigata include its broadly concave leaves, flat costa ending in a hyahne, spinulose hair point that is broad and decurrent at base, and short basal cells.

  • Distribution

    At rather low elevations in the north but up to some 4000 m in the mountains farther to the south; Aguascalientes, Baja California, Chihuahua, Durango, Tlaxcala, Veracruz, Zacatecas.—Mexico; widespread in the Northern Hemisphere; Africa, Australia, and New Zealand

    Mexico North America| Africa| Australia Oceania| New Zealand