Isopterygiopsis muelleriana (Schimp.) Z.Iwats.

  • 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

    Plagiotheciaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Isopterygiopsis muelleriana (Schimp.) Z.Iwats.

  • Description

    Species Description - Stems up to 2 cm long, 0.8-2 mm wide, flattened except for the curvature of upturned leaves; epidermal cells large. Leaves crowded and overlapping, erect-spreading and rigidly complanate; margins plane, entire or minutely sermlate; costa lacking or short and double; cells smooth or minutely papillose at back because of projecting ends, 50-80 µm long and 2-5 µm wide; alar cells not or sometimes differentiated as 1-3 short-rectangular cells, but only along the margins. Reported to be dioicous. Setae 6-12 mm long; capsules erect or rarely ± cernuous, ellipsoidal to ovoid, 0.5-1.5 mm long. Spores 8-12 µm in longer diameter. [Sex organs and sporophytes not seen from Mexico.]

  • Discussion

    Fig. 768

    I. muelleriana (Schimp.) Iwats., J. Hattori Bot. Lab. 33: 379. 1970.

    Isopterygium muellerianum (Schimp.) Jaeg., Ber. Thatigk. St. Gallischen Naturwiss. Ges. 1876-77: 441. 1878.

    Plagiothecium muellerianum Schimp., Syn. Muse Eur. 584. 1860.

    The overlapping, rigidly complanate leaves and large outer stem cells are highly distinctive, as are the papillose, axillary rhizoids. In aspect the plants resemble Catagonium.

  • Distribution

    On rock at 3140 m; Mexico (near Mexico City, Sharp 64, in 1944, CANM, MEXU, MICH, TENN). Mexico; northern and montane in Europe, Asia, and eastern North America (Nova Scotia to Minnesota and south in the uplands to South Carolina and Arkansas; British Columbia, Yukon Territory, and Alaska).

    Mexico North America| Europe| Asia| Canada North America| United States of America North America|