Amphidium cyathicarpum (Mont.) Broth.
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Authority
Sharp, Aaron J., et al. 1994. The Moss Flora of Mexico. Part Two: Orthotrichales to Polytrichales. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 69 (2)
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Family
Rhabdoweisiaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Plants up to 30 mm high but sometimes much less. Leaves strongly crisped and contorted when dry, flexuose-spreading to loosely wide-spreading when moist, 1.6-4 mm long, linear to linear-lanceolate, gradually tapered to a narrowly acute apex; margins narrowly recurved on 1 side below, entire or remotely notched in upper 1/3; Costa ending just below the apex, covered at back in the upper half by faint papillae; upper cells rounded-quadrate to subelliptic, thick-walled, 5-8 µm wide, very densely and minutely pluripapillose over walls and lumina, the papillae ± circular to elliptic and often ± arranged in obscure longitudinal rows (hence appearing indistinctly papillose-striolate); lower cells gradually becoming rectangular, thinner-walled, and yellowish-hyaline, the papillae present but extremely faint, with walls evenly thickened, the cells base somewhat larger and clear. Autoicous. Perichaetial leaves generally longer than stem leaves but not much differntiated, the innermost sometimes distinctly serrulate at margins of the short, ± sheathing base. Setae about 2-2.5 mm long, erect or somewhat curved or flexuose; capsules about 0.8-1 mm long, usually exceeded by perichaetial leaves but appearing short-exserted when dry, operculum low-conic, bluntly apiculate. Spores 11-14 µm, finely papillose to nearly smooth.
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Discussion
Fig. 448
A. cyathicarpum (Mont.) Broth, in E. & P., Nat. Pfl. 1(3): 460. 1902.
Zygodon cyathicarpus Mont., Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. in, 4:106. 1845.
Recognizable features are provided by ribbed, urceolate, usually emergent capsules devoid of a peristome, cucullate calyptrae, and very slender leaves that are strongly curled and contorted when dry. The leaf cells and back of the costa are minutely roughened by papillae crowded over both lumina and walls; the papillae are often slightly elongate and arranged, more or less distinctly, in longitudinal rows.
Amphidium californicum (Hampe ex C. Müll.) Broth, of the Pacific Northwest is closely related to this interesting moss of widely scattered distribution. However it differs in its larger size, more distinctly notched-serrate leaves, larger upper leaf cells (9-12 µm), dioicous sexuality and smaller spores (9-12 µm).
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Distribution
On rocks of volcanic origin, on the surface of cliffs, sides of boulders, or crevices of rocks, 3200-4500 m alt.; Distrito Federal, Jalisco, Mexico, Michoacan.—Mexico; Guatemala; Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, and Ecuador; Hawaiian Islands; New Guinea, Australia, and New Zealand; Canary Islands; Tanzania (Kilimanjaro) and Zaire.
Zaire Africa| Tanzania Africa| Canary Islands of Spain Africa| New Zealand Australia Oceania| Indonesia Asia| Hawaii United States of America North America| Ecuador South America| Venezuela South America| Peru South America| Colombia South America| Guatemala Central America| Mexico North America|