Taxithelium planum (Brid.) Mitt.

  • 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

    Sematophyllaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Taxithelium planum (Brid.) Mitt.

  • Description

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    Species Description - Plants rather slender, light- or yellowish-green to golden, moderately shiny. Leaves appressed and ± complanate, concave, 0.9-1.2 mm long, narrowly to broadly oblong-ovate, obtuse or sharply acute (typically rather abmptly narrowed to a short, acute apex), sermlate nearly to the base; cells linear-flexuose, bearing numerous small, simple or sometimes bluntly forked papillae in 1 row over the lumina, thin-walled above, shorter with thickened, porose walls at the insertion, quadrate in small, triangular alar groups with a few cells at the extreme angles hyaline or yellowish and somewhat inflated. Autoicous. Setae 8-17 mm long, reddish- or brownish-yellow, smooth; capsules about 1 mm long, strongly inclined to horizontal; annulus of 1-2 rows of small, pale, thin-walled cells adhering to the operculum; operculum conic, shortly and bluntly rostrate, about 0.4-0.6 mm long; cilia of endostome 1-2, well-developed. Spores 12-16 µm, faintly roughened.

  • Discussion

    Fig. 748

    T. planum (Brid.) Mitt., J. Linn. Soc, Bot. 12: 496. 1869.

    Hypnum planum Brid., Muscol. Recent. Suppl. 2: 97. 1812.

    The somewhat flattened stems and branches and leaves with somewhat inflated alar cells and seriate-papillose upper cells are distinctive.

  • Distribution

    On bark at base of trees, exposed roots, and logs from sea level to 900 m alt.; Campeche, Chiapas, Oaxaca, Puebla, Quintana Roo, Tabasco, Veracruz, Yucatan.—Common and widespread in the lowlands of tropical America (including Florida); Nigeria.

    Nigeria Africa|