Epipterygium mexicanum (Besch.) Broth.

  • 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

    Bryaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Epipterygium mexicanum (Besch.) Broth.

  • Description

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    Species Description - Plants glossy, hght-green, not or slightly tinged with red, 5—10(—15) mm high, weakly to strongly complanate-foliate. Lateral leaves of sterile plants 1.4-2.5 mm long, obovate to oblanceolate, sometimes broadly elliptic, the dorsal leaves smaller in 1—2(—3) rows, lanceolate; margins entire to minutely serrulate; costa 2/3 the length of lateral leaves; upper cells 55-95(-120) µm long, 7—9(—15) µm wide (or occasionally larger and laxer, 110-150 µm long and 15-20 µm wide), rhomboidal to linear-rhomboidal, thin-walled, those of perichaetial leaves up to 150 µm long. Perichaetial leaves ± abruptly differentiated, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, ± serrulate to serrate near the apex.

  • Discussion

    Fig. 384

    E. mexicanum (Besch.) Broth, in E. & P., Nat. Pfl. 1(3): 555. 1903.

    Webera mexicana Besch., Bull. Soc. Bot. France 20: lxiii. 1873.

    Epipterygium mexicanum var. angustirete Ther., Smithsonian Misc. Collect. 85(4): 28. 1931.

    The species is distinguished from E. immarginatum by its smaller stature and less dimorphous, shiny, pale-green leaves. The leaf cells are long and narrow for the genus (less than 15 µm wide), though sometimes larger and laxer. Lax, elongate stems often have distant, fairly dimorphous leaves, whereas short stems have crowded, overlapping leaves of a more uniform size and shape. The leaves are always spiraled in a 2/5 phyllotaxy no matter how flattened the stems and dimorphous the leaves. Epipterygium mexicanum is more common in Mexico but seems to produce capsules less often than E. immarginatum; sporophytes are rare in both species.

  • Distribution

    On soil at margins of streams and gullies, sometimes on roadbanks, 1600-4000 m alt.; Distrito Federal, Durango, Hidalgo, Jalisco, Mexico, Michoacan, Nayarit, Oaxaca, Puebla, Veracruz.—Mexico; Guatemala and Honduras.

    Mexico North America| Guatemala Central America| Honduras Central America|