Pilotrichella flexilis (Hedw.) Ångstr.

  • 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

    Lembophyllaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Pilotrichella flexilis (Hedw.) Ångstr.

  • Description

    Species Description - Plants robust, pale-green to yellowish or red-brown, sometimes blackish-tinged. Secondary stems up to 30 cm long. Stem leaves loosely imbricate to wide-spreading, 1.2-2 x 0.6-1 mm, cucullate-concave, broadly oblong-ovate, auriculate at basal angles; margins entire; apical cells 4—11 x 1.5-4 µm; median cells 11-21 x 1.5-2.5 µm; basal cells pitted, 7-20 x 3-5 µm; alar cells quadrate, thick-walled, and yellow-brown in well-marked groups, the cells of the auricles linear, 9-18 x 1-1.5 µm. Branches tumid, up to 5 cm long. Branch eaves 1-2.5 x 0.5-1.2 mm; apical cells 4-13 x 1.5-4µm; edian cells 9-25 x 1.5-2.5 µm; basal cells 5-20 x 1.5-4 µm; uricular cells 5-18 x 1-1.5 µm. Setae 5-11 mm long, rough above; capsules 1.5 mm long.

  • Discussion

    Fig. 536

    P. flexilis (Hedw.) Angstr., Bih. Kongl. Svenska Vetensk.-Akad. Handl. 33(11): 34. 1876.

    Leskea flexilis Hedw., Sp. Muse 235. 1801.

    Hypnum thunbergiiBxid., Muscol. Recent. 2(2): 172. 1801.

    Isothecium flexile (Hedw.) Brid., Bryol. Univ. 2: 361. 1827.

    I. thunbergii (Brid.) Brid., Bryol. Univ. 2: 381. 1827.

    Pilotrichum cochlearifoliumC. Mull., Linnaea 17: 599. 1843, non C. Müll., 1851.

    P. turgidum C. Mull., Bot. Zeitung 6: 767. 1848.

    Neckera turgescens C. Miill., Syn. Muse Frond. 2: 131. 1850.

    Meteorium orbifolium Mitt., J. Linn. Soc, Bot. 12: 440. 1869.

    M. flexile (Hedw.) Mitt., J. Linn. Soc, Bot. 12: 438. 1869.

    Pilotrichum circinatum Schimp. ex Besch., Mem. Soc Sci. Nat. Cherbourg 16: 223. 1872, nom. nud.

    Pilotrichella cochlearifolia (C. Müll.) Besch., Mem. Soc. Sci. Nat. Cherbourg 16: 223. 1872.

    P. cochlearifolia var. flagellifera Besch., Mem. Soc. Sci. Nat. Cherbourg 16: 223. 1872.

    P. flagellifera Besch. in Fourn., Mex. Pl. 1: 39. 1872.

    P. eroso-mucronata C. Müll., Bull. Herb. Boissier 5: 563. 1897.

    P. recurvo-mucronata C. Müll., Bull. Herb. Boissier 5: 563. 1897.

    P. erecto-mucronata C. Müll. ex Par., Index Bryol. Suppl. 270. 1900, nom. nud.

    P. araucarieti C. Müll., Hedwigia 40: 85. 1901.

    P. rigens Card., Rev. Bryol. 37: 8. 1910, non Broth., 1926.

    Pterobryopsis subcochlearifolia Ther. ex Crum & Arz., Rev. Bryol. Lichenol. 22: 155. 1953.

    The plants are stout and often reddish, and the thickwalled, brownish alar cells are conspicuously differentiated.

  • Distribution

    Pendent from branches oftrees at moderate elevations; Chiapas, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Michoacan, Oaxaca, Puebla, San Luis Potosf, Tamaulipas, Veracruz.—Mexico to northern South America and the West Indies.

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