Polytrichastrum alpinum (Hedw.) G.L.Sm.

  • 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

    Polytrichaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Polytrichastrum alpinum (Hedw.) G.L.Sm.

  • Description

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    Species Description - Plants medium-sized, densely to loosely caespitose. Stems simple, (3-)6-8(-10) cm tall, densely leafy above, slender, leafless, and thread-like below. Leaves erect-spreading and inrolled when dry, spreading when moist; sheath elliptic to ovate, 1.5 mm long, 1.3 mm wide, the margin entire, hyaline; limb narrowly triangular, toothed at back near the tip, 3.5-4 mm long, 0.5 mm wide, marginal portion of lamina erect, 4-5 cells wide, distantly sermlate to toothed; lamellae entire in profile, 6-7 cells high, the lamellar marginal cells coarsely papillose, the upper wall appearing greatly thickened, in cross-section ovate, 16 µm wide, broader than the cells beneath; sheath cells linear, 6-7 µm wide, 45-65(-80) µm long. Fruiting plants not seen from Mexico.

  • Discussion

    Fig. 793

    P. alpinum (Hedw.) G. L. Smith, Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 21(3): 37. 1971.

    Polytrichum alpinum [L.] Hedw., Sp. Muse. 92. 1801.

    Although widely distributed in the Northern Hemisphere, P. alpinum is evidently rare in Mexico and known only in a sterile condition. The species, in a broad sense, is highly variable in both gametophyte and sporophyte; the capsule varies from long-cylindric to ovate or subspherical, and the peristome is usually composed of somewhat fewer than 64 teeth, many of them double.

  • Distribution

    Mexico, Puebla, Tlaxcala.—Mexico; North America; Eurasia; South America; Australia and New Zealand.

    North America| Europe| Asia| South America| Australia Oceania| New Zealand