Groutiella tumidula

(Mitten) Vitt

Bryologist 82: 9. 1979.

Illustrated
Basionym: Macromitrium tumidulum Mitten J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 12: 201. 1869
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 28. Treatment on page 42.

Plants reddish brown. Branch leaves with distal leaves widest mid leaf or distally, oblong to oblong-lingulate, 1–1.8 mm; margins entire; apex rounded-obtuse, mucronate, not fragile; costa prominent, ending just below or in mucro; distal laminal cells rounded-hexagonal, 6–9 µm. Sexual condition pseudautoicous, dwarf male plants on leaves and tomentum. Seta 3–5 mm. Capsule oblong to oblong-ovate, 1–1.5 mm. Spores anisosporous, 15–22 µm.


Habitat: Rock, trees, horizontal branches 1-3 m high
Elevation: low elevations

Distribution

V28 50-distribution-map.gif

Fla., Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America.

Discussion

Groutiella tumidula is distinguished by non-rugose leaves with a length-width ratio of less than 5:1, and by erect branches less than 5 mm high. The apex of the leaf is mucronate and never strongly apiculate, and the leaves are broadly longitudinally plicate when moist.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.