Cryphaea filiformis (Hedw.) Brid.

  • Authority

    Sharp, Aaron J., et al. 1994. The Moss Flora of Mexico. Part Two: Orthotrichales to Polytrichales. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 69 (2)

  • Family

    Cryphaeaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Cryphaea filiformis (Hedw.) Brid.

  • Description

    Species Description - Secondary stems up to 6.5 cm long and branches up to 2 cm long. Leaves imbricate when dry, spreading to wide-spreading when moist, 1-1.5 mm long and 0.5-1 mm wide, ovate or oblong-ovate, ± gradually short-acuminate, with acumina occasionally twisted; margins plane, entire or rarely serrulate above; costa 0.7-0.8 the leaf length; upper cells elliptic, mostly about 15-22 x 7-9 µm, smooth or papillose on both surfaces because of projecting ends, the apical cells 15-24 x (4-)7-9(-11) µm. Awns of inner perichaetial bracts shorter than the lamina. Capsules ellipsoid to oblong-ovoid. Spores 18-28 µm. Calyptrae slightly papillose above.

  • Discussion

    Fig. 514

    C. filiformis (Hedw.) Brid., Muscol. Recent. Suppl. 4:139. 1819.

    Neckera filiformis Hedw., Sp. Muse. 202.1801.

    Daitonia filiformis (Hedw.) W.-Arn., Mem. Soc. Linn. Paris 5: 296. 1827.

    Cryphaea leiophylla B.S.G., Bryol. Eur. 5(fasc. 44/45). 1850.

    C. leptophylla Schimp. ex Besch., Mem. Soc. Sci. Nat. Cherbourg 16: 214.1872.

    C.funalis C. Mull., Hedwigia 37: 241. 1898.

    C. filiformis var. mexicana Fleisch., Hedwigia 55: 282.1914.

    The only Mexican species with plane leaf margins are C. filiformis and C. orizabae, and both species show some development of papillose projections at the upper ends of leaf cells. Cryphaea orizabae has more abruptly acuminate leaves, a rather shorter costa, somewhat elongate upper cells, and more broadly ovoid capsules.

  • Distribution

    On bark of twigs and branches, near sea level; Hidalgo, Quintana Roo, San Luis Potosi, Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Yucatan.—Mexico; Guatemala; northern South America; West Indies; Georgia and Rorida.

    Mexico North America| Guatemala Central America| Brazil South America| Colombia South America| Guyana South America| French Guiana South America| Ecuador South America| Peru South America| Suriname South America| West Indies| United States of America North America|