Puiggariella aurifolia (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

    Hypnaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Puiggariella aurifolia (Mitt.) Broth.

  • Description

    Species Description - With the characters given for the genus.

  • Discussion

    Fig. 780

    P. aurifolia (Mitt.) Broth, in E. & P., Nat. Pfl. 1(3): 1047. 1908.

    Ctenidium aurifolium Mitt., J. Linn. Soc, Bot. 12: 509. 1869.

    The branches are quite diverse in appearance, being densely foliate and subjulaceous to loosely foliate and complanate or rarely slender and flagellate-tapered. The plants resemble robust members of Mittenothamnium, such as M . salleanum and M . substriatum, but have strongly phcate leaves and porose-walled alar cells.

    Nishimura (1989) found that plants of southern Brazil have scattered paraphyllia as well as pseudoparaphylha. Plants of Mexico and Central America differ from such plants in having no paraphyllia, stem and branches not flagelliform tipped, and leaves weakly secund (never squarrose), broader, and distinctly plicate.

  • Distribution

    On branches in cloud forests at 1770-2000 m alt.; Chiapas, Oaxaca, Puebla, Veracruz.—Mexico; Central and South America.

    South America| Mexico North America| Central America|