Hygrohypnum micans (Mitt.) Broth.

  • 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

    Campyliaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Hygrohypnum micans (Mitt.) Broth.

  • Description

    Species Description - Slender plants in soft, light- or yellow-green to red-brown, glossy mats. Leaves erect-spreading to slightly secund, 0.5-0.7(—1) mm long, oblong-ovate to elliptic from an abruptly narrowed base, acute to short-acuminate; margins reflexed below, sharply sermlate above; costa faint, short and double; upper cells linear-flexuose, shorter at the extreme apex; alar cells subquadrate to oblong in pale, triangular groups, with 2-3 cells at the extreme angles somewhat enlarged and inflated, hyaline or yellowish. Apparently dioicous. Setae about 15 mm long; capsules 0.8-1 mm long, only slightly curved, moderately asymmetric; annulus rather poorly marked, consisting of about 2 rows of cells; operculum stoutly short-rostrate; cilia of endostome 1-2. Spores 11-15 µm, very faintly roughened.

  • Discussion

    Fig. 677

    H. micans (Mitt.) Broth, in E. & P., Nat. Pfl. 1(3): 1940. 1908.

    Hypnum micans Wils. ex Hook., Brit. Fl. 2: 86. 1833, non Sw., 1829.

    Stereodon micansMitt, J. Linn. Soc, Bot. Suppl. 1: 114. 1859.

    Hypnum novae-caesareae Aust., Musci Appal. 440. 1870.

    Sematophyllum novae-caesareae (Aust.) Britt., Bryologist 5: 66. 1902.

    S. micans (Mitt.) Braithw., Brit. Moss Fl. 3: 154. 1902.

    Hygrohypnum novae-caesareae (Aust.) Grout, Moss Fl. N. Amer. 3: 94. 1931.

    The plants are small, soft, and shiny with short, broad leaves abmptly contracted at base, short-acuminate, and distinctly sermlate above. The costa is short, double, and often quite faint. A few cells in a single row at extreme basal angles are somewhat enlarged and inflated. The supra-alar cells are narrow and hyaline in two or three rows. The stoutly shortrostrate operculum is unlike the conic operculum of other members of the genus. Although the plants resemble Sematophyllum and Wijkia, the leaf shape is more like that of Hygrohypnum, the alar cells, though bubble like, arc bordered by other large, clear cells, and the exothecial cells arc not collenchymatous. T h e apparently dioicous inflorescence also suggests a relationship other than Sematophyllum.

  • Distribution

    On moist rocks in or near brooks; Oaxaca (Sierra de Juarez).—Eastern Mexico; Vermont, New York, and New Jersey and south in the mountains to the Carolinas and Tennessee; British Columbia; Ireland.

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