Bryum grandifolium (Taylor) Müll.Hal.

  • 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 grandifolium (Taylor) Müll.Hal.

  • Description

    Species Description - Plants robust (2-6 cm high), scarcely lustrous, in dense, usually tomentose tufts. Stems thick, usually branched by innovations and forming 2-3-storied rosettes. Leaves much smaller below, gradually or abruptly larger (up to 12 mm long) in a terminal rosette, ± wrinkled and erect-flexuose when dry, spreading when moist, obovate, obtuse to acute and then shortly acuminate or apiculate, gradually or abruptly narrowed at the base, distinctly bordered by 4-6 rows of very narrow but not much longer or thicker-walled, yellowish cells; margins plane throughout or occasionally ± reflexed below, serrulate above; costa not strong, rather abruptly tapered toward the apex, ending a little below the apex to shortly excurrent; cells rhomboid-hexagonal or hexagonal, with strongly pitted walls, usually 80-110 x 25-35 µm, shorter toward the apex, long-rectangular in the basal part ofthe leaf. Dioicous. Sporophytes 1-2 from a single perichaetium; setae variable, usually 3-5 cm long; capsules horizontal to nutant, 4-6 mm long, arched, clavate or oblong-pyriform, with a short, slender neck; operculum large, nearly hemispherical and apiculate; endostome with a low basal membrane, widely perforate segments, and well-developed, long-appendiculate cilia. Spores 12-15 mm, slightly roughened.

  • Discussion

    Fig. 369d-f

    B. grandifolium (Tayl.) C. Mull., Syn. Muse. Frond. 1: 250. 1848.

    Mnium grandifoliumTayl, London J. Bot. 6: 336. 1847.

    Bryum rhodocephalum C. Miill. ex Lor., Bot. Zeitung 26: 809. 1868.

    B. mniopsis C Mull., Linnaea 38: 580. 1874.

    B. pyenopyxis C. Mull., Linnaea 42: 474. 1879.

    Rhodobryum grandifoliumTayl.) Schimp. ex Par., Index Bryol. 1116. 1898.

    R. mniopsis (C. Mull.) Par., Index Bryol. 1118. 1898.

    R. pyenopyxis (C Mull.) Par., Index Bryol. 1119.1898.

    R. verticillatulum Broth, ex Herz., Biblioth. Bot. 87: 87. 1916.

    R. subrotundifolium Herz., Repert. Spec. Nov. Regn. Veg. 21: 31. 1925.

    Bryum grandifolium has leaves as much as 10 or 12 mm long. They are broadly obovate and crowded in rosettes, with a strong border of 4-6 rows of narrow cells. The leaf margins are plane or nearly so.

    The Ecuadorian type and the Mexican plants have large leaves, 10-12 m m long, with a gradually narrowed base. The types of Bryum rhodocephalum and Rhodobryum subrotundifolium from Bolivia, on the other hand, have much smaller leaves, only 6-7 mm long, with an abruptly narrowed base and narrower border. There are, however, among other collections, intergradations between these extremes.

  • Distribution

    On moist soil, rocks, or exposed roots of trees; Chiapas (Cerro Tres Picos, 2100-2500 m, Breedlove & Thome 30097, MO).—Mexico; Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, and Brazil.

    Brazil South America| Bolivia South America| Peru South America| Ecuador South America| Colombia South America| Venezuela South America| Mexico North America|