Phascum cuspidatum Hedw.

  • 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

    Phascum cuspidatum Hedw.

  • Description

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    Species Description - Plants green to yellow-brown, 2-4 mm high. Leaves curved and contorted when dry, erect or erect-spreading when moist, up to 2.5 or 3.5 mm long, concave-keeled, oblong-Ianceolate to oblong-obovate, acute or acuminate, ending in a pale, yellowish, smooth hair point of varying length; margins revolute at the middle, sometimes nearly to the apex, entire; costa excurrent, smooth, yellow-brown, with a hydroid strand; upper cells sometimes slightly elongate, about 13-18 µm wide and 1 (-2): 1, usually plane on the dorsal surface and bulging on the ventral, smooth or more commonly with 2-4(-6) papillae on both surfaces (sometimes less papillose at the leaf margins). Autoicous. Setae somewhat curved; capsules immersed, pale-brown, shiny, 1-1.5 mm long, ellipsoid or sometimes globose, stoutly apiculate; exothecial cells ca. 25 µm wide and 2:1, thin-walled. Spores 22-44 µm, spherical and slightly elongate, brown, densely papillose to tuberculate. Calyptra rather small, cucullate, smooth, naked.

  • Discussion

    Fig. 282

    P. cuspidatum Hedw., Sp. Muse. 22. 1801.

    These pygmy mosses have shiny, pale-brown capsules immersed among green or brownish-yellow leaves with revolute margins and yellow-brown awns. The leaf cells, rather large and clear, may be nearly smooth or, more often, adorned with scattered, small papillae often appearing C- or O-shaped in optical section.

    Distribution and Ecology:

  • Distribution

    On bare soil in open, disturbed places; Zacatecas, reported from (Delgadillo, 1992b).-Mexico; eastern North America (Quebec to Wisconsin, Nebraska, and South Dakota, south to Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Texas); British Columbia, California, inland to Saskatchewan and Utah; northern and central Europe; reported from North Africa and the Caucasus.

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