Hypopterygium tamariscinum (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

    Hypopterygiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Hypopterygium tamariscinum (Hedw.) Brid.

  • Description

    Species Description - Green or yellow-green, gregarious or loosely tufted plants 1.5-4 cm high. Secondary stems freely and irregularly branched above a stipitate base to form a rounded to oblong frond. Lateral leaves Of fronds 1-1.5 mm long, complanate-spreading, somewhat shriveled and contorted when dry, asymmetric, oblong-ovate, acuminate, serrate in the upper 1/4-1/2 and bordered by 1-2 rows of linear cells; costa slender, ending 1/2-2/3 up the leaf; cells rhombic or oblong-rhombic, about 16 µm wide, 2-2.5:1, thin-walled and smooth, larger and oblong-hexagonal at the extreme base. Ventral leaves 0.7-1 mm long, ovate, rather abruptly acuminate, with the costa ending in the base of the acumen. Autoicous. Setae single, 8-17 mm long; capsules about 1-1.5 mm long, ovoid-cylindric, constricted below the mouth and at the short neck when dry, ± asymmetric, pendulous; annulus broad; operculum about 1.5 mm long; ciliaof endostomestout and irregular, 1 or 2. Spores 12-18 µm, smooth or nearly so. Calyptrae cucullate, smooth.

  • Discussion

    Fig. 632

    H. tamariscinum (Hedw.) Brid., Bryol. Univ. 2: 715. 1827.

    Leskea tamariscina Hedw Sp. Muse 212. 1801.

    Hypopterygium rigidulum Mitt., J. Linn. Soc, Bot. 12: 329. 1869

    H. sylvaticum Mitt., J. Linn. Soc, Bot. 12:329. 1869.

    H. pseudotamarisci C. Müll., Linnaea 38: 645. 1874.

    The plants are attractively branched above a stipe to form a flat, rounded frond. The leaves on the lower sides of branches are reduced in size and differentiated in form.

  • Distribution

    On moist, shaded soil and rocks on banks, also on logs and bark at base of trees, 400-2900 fm alt.; Chiapas, Hidalgo, Oaxaca, Puebla, San Luis Potosi, Tamaulipas, Veracruz.—Mexico to northern South America; West Indies; Florida.

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