Ephemerum crassinervium var. texanum

(Grout) V. S. Bryan & L. E. Anderson

Bryologist 60: 73. 1957,.

Basionym: Ephemerum spinulosum var. texanum Grout Moss Fl. N. Amer. 2: 70. 1935
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 27. Treatment on page 652.

Plants less than 2.2 mm. Leaves broadly lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate or ligulate and acuminate, often narrowed distally from slight to prominent shoulders, 0.8–2.4 × 0.17–0.27 mm; margins serrate distal to the proximal third, often with narrow shoulders bearing one or more teeth; apex acuminate, toothed, and densely papillose in the distal half; costa thin at base, percurrent or excurrent; areolation markedly dense distally; median laminal cells slightly papillose; distal laminal cells densely papillose. Capsule with few stomates, scattered throughout. Spores various, commonly subglobose, 68–120 × 50–80 µm, dark brown.


Phenology: Capsules mature year around, mostly in spring, autumn, and winter.
Habitat: Moist or drying soil, frequently in old fields, on roadsides, or in mixed forests
Elevation: low to moderate elevations (50-600 m)

Distribution

V27 963-distribution-map.gif

Ont., Ala., Ark., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., La., Minn., Miss., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Pa., S.C., Tenn., Tex., W.Va.

Discussion

Variety texanum is distinguishable largely by the dense papillosity of the distal half of the leaves. Secondarily, the lanceolate leaf shape, modified by more or less evident shoulders at the base of the acumen, confirms a determination.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
Virginia S. Bryan +
(Grout) V. S. Bryan & L. E. Anderson +
Ephemerum spinulosum var. texanum +
Ont. +, Ala. +, Ark. +, Fla. +, Ga. +, Ill. +, Ind. +, Iowa +, Kans. +, La. +, Minn. +, Miss. +, N.J. +, N.Y. +, N.C. +, Ohio +, Okla. +, Pa. +, S.C. +, Tenn. +, Tex. +  and W.Va. +
low to moderate elevations (50-600 m) +
Moist or drying soil, frequently in old fields, on roadsides, or in mixed forests +
Capsules mature year around, mostly in spring, autumn, and winter. +
Ephemerum crassinervium var. texanum +
Ephemerum crassinervium +
variety +