Fissidens mollis Mitt.

  • 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 mollis Mitt.

  • Description

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    Species Description - Plants usually dark-green, up to 15 mm long, erect to decumbent, radiculose along the stems. Leaves up to ca. 5.5 mm long, narrowly oblong to lanceolate, acute to obtuse and apiculate; margins entire, often serrulate at the apex, bordered on all laminae, the border generally 3-4-stratose, confluent at the leaf apex and descending to the lower end of the dorsal lamina; costa percurrent to ending 15 or more cells below the apex, variable in leaves on the same stem; dorsal lamina narrowing below, ending at the insertion or infrequently somewhat decurrent; vaginant laminae ± 1/2 the leaf length, ± equal; cells smooth, variable in shape, square to oblong, pentagonal, or hexagonal, large, (18-)34-38(-49) x (14-)16-20(-23) µm, those along the costa larger and mostly oblong, up to 9 0 µm in lower half of the vaginant laminae. Rhizautoicous. Sporophytes terminal; setae 1-2 per perichaetium, 4-5 mm long; capsules ovoid, up to 0.7 mm long; operculum long-rostrate, as long as the urn; peristome teeth deeply divided, spirally thickened above. Spores 8-12 µm, smooth. Calyptrae cucullate, smooth.

  • Discussion

    Fig. 54a-c

    F. mollis Mitt., J. Linn. Soc, Bot. 12: 600. 1869.

    F. bryodictyon Besch., Rev. Bryol. 8: 50.1881.

    Fissidens mollis is easily distinguished from F. reticulosus, F. dissitifolius, F. megacistis, F. jaliscensis, and F. juruensishy stronger borders that are confluent at the apex.

  • Distribution

    On moist, shaded soil and limestone rocks in forests and along streams elevations of 100-1500 m; Chiapas, Oaxaca, Puebla, Veracmz.—Mexico; Central America; South America; West Indies and Trinidad.

    Mexico North America| Central America| South America| West Indies|