Macrocoma orthotrichoides (Raddi) Wijk & Margad.

  • Authority

    Sharp, Aaron J., et al. 1994. The Moss Flora of Mexico. Part Two: Orthotrichales to Polytrichales. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 69 (2)

  • Family

    Orthotrichaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Macrocoma orthotrichoides (Raddi) Wijk & Margad.

  • Description

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    Species Description - Plants slender, in dark-green to olive-brown mats. Stems creeping, irregularly branched, with widely-spaced, erect to horizontal branches, sometimes with short branchlets. Leaves tightly appressed when dry, spreading to wide-spreading when moist, keeled, particularly below, 0.8-1.2 mm long, lanceolate, sharply acute to sometimes narrowly obtuse in older leaves; margins entire, slightly roughened below due to bulging cells, plane above, reflexed below; costa prominent, ending just below the apex; upper cells 4-9 µm wide, thin-walled, usually rather obscure, ± similar near the costa and at margins, rounded-quadrate to rounded, smooth, flat to slightly bulging; marginal cells sometimes subquadrate-rounded; basal cells bulging, rounded at margins, roundedelliptic near the costa. Gonioautoicous. Perichaetial leaves slightly larger but similar in shape to vegetative leaves; upper cells smooth and ± flat; basal cells ± longer, smooth; paraphyses not abundant, some persistent at base ofthe seta. Setae 3.1-8 mm long; capsules 1.6-2 mm long, broadly cylindric to fusiform-cylindric, smooth, seldom with ribs even when old; exothecial cells not differentiated in bands, rounded- elhptic to elongate, up to 33 µm long, 3-13 µm wide, thick-walled; stomata in the neck; peristome single; exostome teeth 16, well developed, on the outer surface coarsely papillose, transversely striate on the inner surface. Spores 25-32 µm, finely papillose. Calyptrae ± hairy, obscurely phcate, dark-yellow.

  • Discussion

    Fig. 485

    M. orthotrichoides (Raddi) Wijk & Marg., Taxon 11: 221. 1962.

    Lasia orthotrichoides Raddi, Critt. Brasil. 30. 1822.

    Orthotrichum filiforme Hook. & Grev., Edinburgh J. Sci. 1:116.1824, nom. illeg.

    Macromitrium filiforme Schwaegr., Sp. Muse. Suppl. 2(2): 64. 1826, nom. illeg.

    In Mexico, Macrocoma orthotrichoides is not nearly as common as M . tenue ssp. sullivantii; it appears to be more common in South America. T h e well-developed peristome of 16 exostome teeth distinguish it from M . tenue ssp. sullivantii. The upper leaf cells tend to be flat, obscure, thin-walled, and uniform in size from costa to margin.

  • Distribution

    Rare, on bark of trees in dry forests; Hidalgo, San Luis Potosi, Tamaulipas.—Mexico; Guatemala; northern South America and southeastern Brazil; India

    Mexico North America| Guatemala Central America| Colombia South America| Brazil South America| Ecuador South America| Guyana South America| French Guiana South America| Peru South America| Suriname South America| India Asia|