Fissidens radicans Mont.

  • Authority

    Sharp, Aaron J., et al. 1994. The Moss Flora of Mexico. Part One: Sphagnales to Bryales. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 69 (1): 1-452.

  • Family

    Fissidentaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Fissidens radicans Mont.

  • Description

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    Species Description - Plants up to 7.5 mm long, simple or branched. Leaves usually caducous, u p to 1.8 mm long, mostly oblong-ligulate, mostly broadly acute to rounded at the apex; margins ± crenulate, unbordered; costa ending 5-18 cells below the leaf apex; dorsal lamina narrowed at or very near the insertion; vaginant laminae ± unequal, 1/2 - 2/3 the leaf length; cells rounded-hexagonal, 6-10 µm in diameter, smooth, convex-thickened and appearing to be bulging, somewhat larger and thicker-walled in the vaginant laminae. Autoicous. Setae terminal on stems and branches, up to 4 mm long; capsules ± ovoid, up to 0.9 mm long; opercula longrostrate; peristome teeth reduced, not or irregularly divided, irregularly ornamented above, with horizontal ridges and papillae below. Spores 17-20 µm in diameter, coarsely papillose. Calyptrae not seen.

  • Discussion

    Fig. 22

    F. radicans Mont., Ann Sci. Nat., Bot. II, 14: 345. 1840.

    the past F. radicans and F. allenianus were treated by American authors as a single species. Although closely related, the species are distinct in a number of characters: The leaves of F. radicans are caducous, and many herbarium specimens can be distinguished by conspicuously denuded stems. Leaves of F. allenianus, on the other hand, remain attached. The leaf tips of F. radicans are usually broadly acute to rounded, while the those of F. allenianus are abruptly narrowed to rounded-obtuse. In F. radicans the peristome teeth are incomplete and not or poorly divided, but those of F. allenianus are complete and divided 2/3 their length.

  • Distribution

    decaying wood and tree bark, rarely on rock, at low elevations; Quintana Roo—Mexico to northern South America; West Indies

    Mexico North America| Central America| Peru South America| Ecuador South America| Colombia South America| Venezuela South America| Guyana South America| Suriname South America| French Guiana South America| Brazil South America| West Indies|