Brachythecium plumosum (Hedw.) Schimp.

  • 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

    Brachytheciaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Brachythecium plumosum (Hedw.) Schimp.

  • Description

    Species Description - Plants of medium size, in loose, green, yellow, or bronzetinged mats, brownish below. Stems prostrate, decumbent, or erect, ± pinnate; branches erect-ascending, ± curved at the tips. Leaves homomallous, erect-imbricate when dry, spreading when moist. Stem leaves concave, not or faintly plicate, 1-2.1 x 0.5-1 mm long, ovate-lanceolate and acute to narrowly acuminate or ovate and abmptly short-acuminate to acute-apiculate, the apex ± blunt (and apical cell short), slightly decurrent; margins plane, entire to slightly sermlate in the acumen; costa stout at base, tapered above and vanishing at or above the midleaf; upper cells 30-60 x 4-7 µm, fusiform to linear and ± flexuose, the apical cells noticeably shorter, 12-45 x 4-13 µm; basal cells 15-45 x 7-15 µm, rectangular, ± porose, ± colored, the alar cells lax, subquadrate to rectangular, 12-27 x 7-15 µm. Branch leaves 0.9-1.5 x 0.4-0.9 mm long, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, or oblongovate, ± short-acuminate. Autoicous. Perichaetial leaves sheathing at base, abmptly spreading-acuminate. Setae 12-19 mm long, dark red-brown, papillose above; capsules suberect to horizontal, 1.2-2 x 0.5-1.1 mm, oblong-ovoid; annulus of 1-2 rows of small, inconspicuous cells; operculum u p to 0.8 mm long, acute to apiculate; cilia of endostome 1-3(-4), nodose to appendiculate. Spores 10-20 µm, nearly smooth.

  • Discussion

    Fig. 685

    B. plumosum (Hedw.) B.S.G., Bryol. Eur. 6(fasc 52/54). 1853.

    Hypnum plumosum Hedw., Sp. Muse 257. 1801.

    H. duriuscuiumSchimp. exC. Müll., Syn. Muse Frond. 2: 426. 1851, fide Mitten, 1869.

    Brachythecium plumosum var. homomallum B.S.G., Bryol. Eur. 6(fasc 52/54). 1853,fide Crum et al., 1965.

    Hypnum brunneo-alare C. Müll., Linnaea 38: 654. 1874.

    Brachythecium brunneo-alare (C. Müll.) Jaeg., Ber. Thatigk. St. Gallischen Naturwiss. Ges. 1876-77: 321. 1878.

    B. camptocladum Besch. ex Jaeg., Ber. Thatigk. St. Gallischen Naturwiss. Ges. 1876-77: 321. 1878, nom. nud.

    B. plumosum var. sublaevipes Card., Rev. Bryol. 37: 70. 1910.

    Identifying features include the wet habitat as well as the yellow, brown, or bronzed leaves that are smoothly concave and often homomallous.

  • Distribution

    On wet rocks near streams, sometimes on logs or tree trunks in moist places, 2000-3900 m alt.; Distrito Federal, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Mexico, Oaxaca, Puebla, Veracruz.—Mexico; Guatemala; Colombia and Bolivia; widely distributed in North America; Europe, North Africa, and Asia; New Zealand.

    New Zealand North America| Europe| Asia| Algeria Africa| Egypt Africa| Libya Africa| Morocco Africa| Tunisia Africa| Bolivia South America| Colombia South America| Guatemala Central America| Mexico North America|