Bryum chryseum Mitt.

  • 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

    Bryaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Bryum chryseum Mitt.

  • Description

    Species Description - Medium-sized, yellowish, strongly lustrous plants in dense tufts. Stems very short, branched by a few subfloral innovations. Leaves closely imbricate almost throughout, not much altered on drying, strongly concave, ovate or ovate-oblong, slenderly short-acuminate, gradually narrowed to a ± decurrent base, not bordered; margins plane or slightly reflexed, entire or slightly crenulate above; costa slender, rather long-excurrent with a denticulate tip; cells oblong-rhomboidal in the median region, narrower in the upper part, subquadrate at basal margins, the alar cells occasionally distinctly differentiated, especially on leaves of innovations. Dioicous. Setae very slender, ± flexuose, usually 2-3 cm long; capsules nearly horizontal, narrowly clavate with a short, slender neck gradually tapered to the seta; operculum relatively large, nearly hemispheric, with a small apiculus; peristome teeth linear-lanceolate; segments much shorter than the teeth, widely perforate except for a short apical portion, the cilia very short, ± nodulose. Spores 10-13 µm, slightly roughened.

  • Discussion

    Fig. 356a-g

    B. chryseumMitt., J. Linn. Soc, Bot. 12: 304. 1869.

    B. guatemalense Hampe ex C. Mull., Bull. Herb. Boissier 5:182. 1897.

    Bryum chryseum may be more closely related to Brachymenium acuminatum or B.fabronioides, judging from the leaf shape, ± differentiated alar cells, and short segments and cilia. It may also be related to the subg. Anomobryum, as indicated by closely imbricate, concave leaves that are scarcely altered on drying and sublinear upper cells. However, because of clavate, nearly horizontal capsules, relatively large opercula, and rather well-developed endostome segments, it can be placed here, at least provisionally, in Bryum subg. Bryum.

  • Distribution

    On moist to relatively dry cliffs or boulders in semi-shady to open sites; Chihuahua, Jalisco, Michoacan, Oaxaca, Puebla.—Mexico; Guatemala; Bolivia and Chile.

    Chile South America| Bolivia South America| Guatemala Central America| Mexico North America|