Eulacophyllum cultelliforme (Sull.) W.R.Buck & Ireland
-
Authority
Buck, William R. 1998. Pleurocarpous mosses of the West Indies. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 82: 1-400.
-
Family
Stereophyllaceae
-
Scientific Name
-
Description
Species Description - Plants relatively small, in lustrous, light- to yellow-green, mostly thin, ± flat, tightly attached mats. Stems creeping, to 2 cm long, simple or sparingly and irregularly branched, somewhat complanate-foliate; in cross-section with 1-3 rows of small firm-walled cells surrounding large thin-walled cells, central strand absent; pseudoparaphyllia filamentous, short; axillary hairs with a single short brown basal cell and 2 hyaline distal cells. Stem and branch leaves similar, mostly distant, ± stiff, erect-spreading when dry or moist, complanate, oblong-lanceolate to oblong-ovate, sometimes lingulate, cultriform, 0.8-1.5 mm long, acute to obtuse, often asymmetric, flat or concave, not decurrent; margins serrate to serrulate above, serrulate to entire below, plane; costa single, ending at midleaf or slightly above, projecting at apex as a small spine; cells long-hexagonal with ends truncate to rounded, 8-12:1, 42-89 X 5-7 µm, smooth but sometimes appearing prorulose due to thickened end walls, firm-walled, not porose, becoming shorter in extreme apex; alar cells usually distinctly differentiated, quadrate to rectangular, 9-14 X 7-9 µm, collenchymatous, with many on one side of costa and few on other, sometimes with few on both sides of costa, extending across adaxial surface of the costa and up one margin by 6-15 cells. Asexual propagula none. Autoicous. Perichaetia along stems, especially at bases; leaves erect, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, to 1.1 mm long, acuminate; margins erose at shoulders, subentire below, plane; costa none; cells linear, smooth, firm-walled, not porose; alar cells not differentiated. Setae elongate, smooth, orange to reddish brown, 0.6-1.1 cm long, straight or flexuose; capsules cernuous, somewhat arcuate, ellipsoidal or ovoid, 1-1.5 mm long; exothecial cells short-rectangular, ± thick-walled, ± collenchymatous, becoming thinner-walled and oblate toward the mouth; annulus of 2-4 rows of small thin-walled cells, tardily deciduous; operculum rostrate, mostly straight, sometimes oblique, 0.4-0.6 mm long; exostome teeth narrowly triangular, shouldered, bordered, on the front surface cross-striolate below, papillose above, trabeculate at back; endostome with a high, ± smooth basal membrane, segments finely papillose, keeled, perforate, almost as long as the teeth, cilia 1 (-2), slightly shorter than the segments. Spores spherical, papillose, 9-13 µm. Calyptrae cucullate, naked, smooth.
-
Discussion
1. Eulacophyllum cultelliforme (Sull.) W. R. Buck & Ireland, Nova Hedwigia 41; 108. 1985; Hypnum cultelliforme Sulk, Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 5: 289. 1861; Stereophyllum cultelliforme (Sull.) Mitt., J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 12; 544. 1869. Plate 110, figures 8-13 Stereophyllum matoubae Besch., J. Bot. (Morot) 16: 11. 1902. Discussion. Eulacophyllum cultelliforme is the smallest member of the Stereophyllaceae in our flora, and grows in the most xeric habitats. The leaves are often cultriform (shaped like a plowshare) and strongly asymmetric. The costa projects as a small spine and the alar cells are small and typically strongly unequally distributed on either side of the costa. It is most likely to be confused with the extralimital Entodontopsis nitens (Mitt.) W. R. Buck & Ireland (which might be found in the flora), because of the acute to obtuse leaf apices. The Eulacophyllum can be distinguished, though, by the costa apically spinulose and by smaller alar cells (9-14 X 7-9 µm rather than 9-24 X 9-14 µm).
-
Distribution
Range. Mexico south through Central America, northern South America, lowland eastern South America, south to Paraguay and eastern Brazil, Trinidad; Cuba, Jamaica, Hispaniola (Haiti and Dominican Republic), Puerto Rico, Virgin Islands (St. John), St. Martin, Saba, St. Kitts, Nevis, Antigua, Guadeloupe, Dominica, Martinique; mostly growing on limestone (and sandstone) rocks and cliffs, often in or beside streams but otherwise in semi-dry areas, rarely on bases of trees, exposed roots, or rotten lo
Mexico North America| Central America| South America| Trinidad and Tobago South America| Cuba South America| Jamaica South America| Haiti South America| Dominican Republic South America| Puerto Rico South America| United States Virgin Islands South America| Saint Martin South America| Saba South America| Saint Kitts and Nevis South America| Antigua and Barbuda South America| Guadeloupe South America| Dominica South America| Martinique South America|