Rhynchostegium scariosum (Taylor) A.Jaeger

  • 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

    Rhynchostegium scariosum (Taylor) A.Jaeger

  • Description

    Species Description - Plants small to medium-sized, in loose, green mats. Stems prostrate, irregularly branched; branches prostrate to erect. Leaves ± complanate and erect or spreading when dry and ± spreading when moist. Stem leaves slightly concave at base, 0.9-1.3 x 0.4-0.9 mm, ovate, gradually narrowed to a short, often twisted acumen; margins serrate to sermlate to the base; costa tapered from the base, vanishing above the leaf middle, sometimes ending in a spine; median cells fusiform to linear, 40-70 x 4—7 µm, slightly shorter in the acumen; basal cells laxly rectangular, 20-40 x 8-15 µm, in a distinct row across the insertion; alar cells quadrate to rectangular, 12-22 x 5-10 µm, generally bordered by 1 -2 rows of longer, narrower cells. Branch leaves 0.6-1.3 x 0.2-0.5 mm, broadly lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, often twisted at the short acumen; margins serrate throughout. Autoicous. Perichaetial bracts up lo 2.2 mm long, tapered to a long, erect acumen from a sheathing base. Setae red at base, yellow above, smooth, 9-15 mm long; capsules inclined, 1-1.5 x 0.4-0.6 mm, oblong-cylindric, constricted below the mouth, tapered at the short neck; annulus of 1-2 layers of inflated cells; operculum hemispheric or short-conic, abmptly short-rostrate, up to 1.2 mm long; cilia of endostome 2-3, nodose. Spores smooth, 10-20 µm.

  • Discussion

    Fig. 698

    R. scariosum (Tayl.) Jaeg., Ber. Thatigk. St. Gallischen Naturwiss. Ges. 1876-77: 374. 1878.

    Hypnum scariosum Tayl., London J. Bot. 5: 65. 1846.

    Eurhynchiella scariosa (Tayl.) Williams, Bryologist 31: 113. 1928.

    Steerecleus scariosus (Tayl.) Robins., Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 45: 681.1987.

  • Distribution

    On trunks oftrees and logsin moist areas, occasionally on wet rocks, 600-3000 m elev.; Distrito Federal, Hidalgo, Michoacan, Oaxaca, Puebla, San Luis Potosi, Tamaulipas, Veracruz.—Mexico and Guatemala; northern South America.

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