Physcomitrium subsphaericum Schimp.
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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.
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Family
Funariaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Plants 3-5 mm high, rarely more. Leaves erect-spreading, crisped-contorted when dry, undulate-concave when moist, oblong to spatulate, broadly short-acuminate; margins not or weakly bordered, serrate in the upper half or rarely subentire; costa subpercurrent or ending several cells below the apex. Setae 3-5 mm long; capsules exserted, subglobose when intact, subhemispheric to short-urceolate when deoperculate, with the neck about as long as the urn, sometimes flaring at the mouth when dry; exothecial cells moderately and evenly thick-walled or ± collenchymatous (especially in immature capsules); operculum bluntly rostrate. Spores 29-33 µm, spherical, brown. Calyptra sheathing the beak and flaring out over the plane portion of the operculum.
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Discussion
Fig. 320
P. subsphaericum Schimp. ex C. Müll., Syn. Muse. Frond. 2: 544. 1851.
P. ollula C. Müll., Bull. Herb. Boissier 5:174. 1897.
Because the genus is poorly represented among Mexican collections, a conservative view of the species is warranted. Following Bartram's suggestion (1949b), I have included Physcomitrium ollula in the variation of P. subsphaericum. The leaf border may be not or weakly differentiated. The capsule shape varies within the same collection, apparently with degree of maturity; when empty, the capsules may be subglobose, hemispheric, or flaring-cupulate to urceolate. As noted by Crum and Anderson (1955), P. cupuliferum Mitt. apparently differs primarily in the short, distinct neck and more distinctly bordered leaves. In view of the variability of P. subsphaericum, such differences m a y prove to be unreliable.
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Distribution
On moist soil of banks, including roadcuts; Chiapas and Veracruz.—Mexico; Guatemala.
Mexico North America| Guatemala Central America|