Grimmia affinis Hornsch.

  • 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 affinis Hornsch.

  • Description

    Species Description - Plants up to 2.5 cm high, rarely as much as 5 cm. Leaves imbricate when dry, erect-spreading when moist, keeled, ovate-lanceolate, gradually acuminate, 1.5-2 mm long exclusive of ± smooth hair points up to half or more the length of the leaf (or sometimes muticous); margins recurved on 1 side below, 2(-4)-stratose above; costa with about 4 guide cells; cells unistratose throughout or partially bistratose near the apex, 7-8 µm, short and quadrate or irregular in shape, with thick, ± sinuose walls; basal cells linear, thick-walled, ± sinuose, the marginal cells short, with thickened cross-walls. Autoicous. Male inflorescences near the female or on a separate branch. Perichaetial leaves up to 3 mm long, with hair points 1-3 mm long. Setae straight, 1.8-3 mm long; capsules emergent to short-exserted, 1-1.8 mm long, ovoid to oblongcylindric, smooth; annulus deciduous, of 3 layers of cells; operculum rostrate, sometimes obliquely so; peristome teeth irregularly cleft, reddish. Spores 10-12 µm, smooth or nearly so. Calyptrae mitrate.

  • Discussion

    Fig. 297

    G. affinis Hoppe & Hornsch. ex Hornsch., Flora 2: 85. 1819.

    G. ovata var. affinis (Hoppe & Hornsch. ex Hornsch.) B.S.G., Bryol. Eur. 3(fasc. 25/28). 1845.

    G. involucrata Card., Rev. Bryol. 36: 105. 1909.

    G. praetermissa Card., Rev. Bryol. 36: 105. 1909.

    The species is quite variable and often difficult to recognize. The leaves are keeled and normally hair-pointed, with margins recurved on one side below. The inner basal cells are linear with sinuose walls, and the alar cells are quadrate with thickened cross-walls. It helps to confirm the autoicous sexual condition, but the perigonia often terminate separate branches and are difficult to find. Plants with muticous leaves (as seen in some Mexican collections from high altitudes) have been called Grimmia ovalis fo. mutica (Bartr.) Jones.

  • Distribution

    From moderate to high altitudes; Aguascalientes, Baja California, Chihuahua, Distrito Federal, Durango, Hidalgo, Mexico, Michoacan, Morelos, Oaxaca, Puebla, Veracruz.—Mexico; reported from Central and South America; Greenland to Alaska; western North America; Labrador to Minnesota and south to North Carolina; widespread in Europe; Asia; Africa.

    Mexico North America| Central America| South America| Greenland North America| United States of America North America| Canada North America| Europe| Asia| Africa|