Leptobryum pyriforme (Hedw.) Wilson

  • 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

    Meesiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Leptobryum pyriforme (Hedw.) Wilson

  • Description

    Species Description - Plants about 0.5-1.5 cm (rarely as much as 7 cm) high, Stems black, flexuose, sometimes bearing dark-red, globose brood bodies in leaf axils or on radicles and protonemata, regularly producing minute, reddish club hairs in axils of upper leaves. Upper leaves 4-5 mm long, long-setaceous, sometimes denticulate near the apex. Synoicous (or sometimes dioicous). Setae 10-45 mm long, red-yellow or orange-brown; capsules 1.7-2.5 mm long, brown or yellow-brown, horizontal to pendulous; cilia of endostome in 3s (occasionally in 4s). Spores 9-13 µm, smooth or very finely papillose.

  • Discussion

    Fig. 383

    L. pyriforme (Hedw.) Wils., Bryol. Brit. 219. 1855; also (Hedw.) Schimp., Coroll. Bryol. Eur. 64. 1855.

    Webera pyriformis Hedw., Sp. Muse 169. 1801.

    The narrow, almost setaceous leaves are anomalous in the Bryaceae, but the pear-shaped capsules and the nature ofthe peristome leave no question of relationship. Leptobryum wilsonii (Mitt.) Broth, of South America has gametophytes scarcely distinguishable from those of many Pohlia species.

  • Distribution

    On soil, rotten wood, humus, or occasionally rock in wet places, often in burned-over or otherwise disturbed habitats; Baja California, Distrito Federal, Hidalgo, Mexico, Puebla, Zacatecas.—Mexico; Guatemala; Haiti; many parts of South America; Greenland; throughout North America; throughout Europe and across Asia to Japan; New Guinea; reported from New Zealand and

    Australia Oceania| New Zealand Papua New Guinea Asia| Indonesia Asia| Asia| Europe| North America| South America| Haiti South America| Guatemala Central America| Mexico North America|