Fabronia ciliaris (Brid.) Brid.
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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
Fabroniaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Branch leaves lanceolate to oblong or ovate, gradually to abruptly acuminate, sometimes piliferous; margins entire to long-dentate, the teeth of a single cell; costa ending near the midleaf, sometimes as a small spine; upper cells rhomboidal, 3-8:1, shorter at the margins, thin- to firm-walled, often somewhat thicker-walled in the acumen; alar cells differentiated. Setae 1.5-4.5 mm long; capsules ca 1 mm long, ovoid; peristome teeth (absent in abnormal specimens) recurved, paired, papillose to papillose-striolate. Spores papiUose, 10-21 µm.
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Discussion
F. ciliaris (Brid.) Brid., Bryol. Univ. 2: 171. 1827.
Hypnum ciliareBrid., Muscol. Recent. Suppl. 2: 155. 1812.
Fabronia ciliaris and numerous other New World Fabronias are a taxonomic nightmare. Few characters are reliable. I toyed with recognizing many species and also a single, heteromorphous species. Fabronia ciliaris, as treated here, can be considered only partially understood. Most ofthe New World Fabronia type specimens have been examined, as well as numerous other specimens, but no solution presented itself, other than one of abandonment. However, until someone has the courage and the knowledge to face this problem at a statistic/cladistic level, the following approach should assist in sorting specimens.