Bryoerythrophyllum calcareum (Thér.) R.H.Zander

  • 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

    Pottiaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Bryoerythrophyllum calcareum (Thér.) R.H.Zander

  • Description

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    Species Description - Plants green above, yellow- to red-brown below. Stems 10-14 mm high, seldom branched, red-brown, sparsely radiculose. Propagula in axillary masses, red-brown, unicellular, elliptic or angular-elliptic, 14—20 µm wide, 1-2:1. Leaves when dry erect or somewhat spreading, when moist ± spreading, nearly flat, 0.5-1.5(-l .7) mm long, hgulate, rounded at the apex, the base scarcely differentiated or oblong, shortly decurrent; margins recurved throughout, entire, occasionaUy with cells bistratose in patches, thick-walled, yellowish; costa ending in an apiculus or as much as several cells below the apex and decurrent at base, with the ventral stereids few and poorly differentiated or none, hydroids present; upper cells subquadrate to hexagonal, 7-9 µm wide; basal cells differentiated toward the costa or across the leaf, rectangular, 9-12 µm wide and 2-3:1, thin-walled. Dioicous. Perigonia terminal on small, bud-like plants (about 1 mm high). Setae 7-10 mm long; capsules 0.7-2(-3) mm long, cyhndric; annulus of about 2 rows of vesiculose cells, persistent; operculum long-conic, 0.5-0.8 mm long, with cells spirally arranged; peristome segments fihform from a low basal m e m brane, twisted in 1 counterclockwise turn, orange, about 500 µm long. Spores 9-12 µm, essentially smooth.

  • Discussion

    Fig. 207a-f

    B. calcareum (Ther.) Zand., Bryologist 83: 232. 1980.

    Barbula calcarea Ther., Smithsonian Misc. Collect. 85(4): 20. 1931.

    This species is sometimes difficult to distinguish from B. inaequalifolium. In addition to having ligulate leaves often bordered by 2-3 rows of differentiated cells and a persistent annulus, B. calcareum has leaves orange to orange-red in 2 % KOH (rather than dark red). These characters may vary, however, and thus need further observation as more collections become available. Sterile plants can be confused with species of Didymodon of similar leaf shape, but the hollow, compound papillae of B. calcareum are distinctive.

  • Distribution

    On calcareous rock or soil at 2600-2800 m elev.; Chihuahua, Distrito Federal, Durango, Mexico, Michoacan, Tlaxcala.—Mexico; Guatemala.

    Mexico North America| Guatemala Central America|