Trichosteleum papillosum (Hornsch.) A.Jaeger
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Authority
Buck, William R. 2003. Guide to the plants of central french Guiana. Part 3. Mosses. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 76: 1-167.
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Family
Sematophyllaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Plants medium-sized, in somewhat lustrous, ± soft, mostly yellowish green to golden, dense, often extensive mats; stems to ca. 3 cm long, reddish, freely but irregularly branched, the branches slightly or not at all complanate-foliate. Leaves erect-spreading, oblong-lanceolate, short- to abruptly long-acuminate, if long- acuminate the apex usually flexuose and twisted, 0.7-1.7 x 0.2-0.4 mm; margins ± serrate above, serrulate below, plane or occasionally narrowly reflexed below apex; costa very short and double or absent; cells linear, 40-80 x 5-7 µm, unipapillose in upper 1/2-7/8 of leaf, the papillae over almost every cell, large, to 10 µm tall, almost as wide as the lumina, often flat-topped; alar cells greatly enlarged and inflated, oblong to oval, usually orange, 2-4 at each basal angle. Setae smooth or slightly roughened just below the urn, 0.8-2 cm long, curved just below the urn; capsules usually broadest at the mouth, 0.5-0.9 mm long, often with a roughened neck.
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Discussion
After study, I am allowing quite a bit of variation in my concept of this species. One form consists of relatively small plants, often appressed to rotten wood, with long-acuminate, flexuose leaf apices, and tall laminal papillae over the lumina of almost all cells except those toward the extreme leaf base. On the other hand, there are relatively robust plants, often epiphytic, that have more broadly acuminate leaf apices, and laminal cells that have lower papillae and those only on the cells in the upper half of the leaf. If just the two extremes are seen, they seem amply distinct. However, there are quite a few intermediates, including the type of T. papillosum itself. So, for the time being I am only recognizing a single, polymorphic species.
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Distribution
In non-flooded moist forests, common, 200-400 m, on tree trunks and decaying wood, sometimes epiphytic.
French Guiana South America|