familyLembophyllaceae
genusIsothecium
Isothecium
Bryol. Univ. 2: 355, plate 10, fig. 7. 1827
Etymology: Greek isos, equal, and theke, case, alluding to symmetric capsule
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 28. Treatment on page 618. Mentioned on page 616, 617, 619, 620, 652.
Plants small. Stems irregularly branched. Stem and branch leaves similar, triangular or ovate; margins weakly toothed to entire; ecostate or costa single; medial laminal cells more than 5:1. Seta red-brown, 0.8–2 cm. Capsule suberect, inclined, or rarely erect, symmetric; operculum conic; peristome perfect.
Distribution
North America, Europe, Asia, Atlantic Islands, Pacific Islands.
Discussion
Species 11 (5 in the flora).
Isothecium occurs mainly in temperate to subtropical regions and grows in dense, pendent wefts with creeping stems. The primary stem leaves are squarrose and distant, and erect-spreading, strongly imbricate, or occasionally wide spreading. The setae are smooth; the peristome is yellow.
References
Lower Taxa
Key
1 | Secondary stems irregularly branched, strongly julaceous when dry; stem leaf alar regions extensive, to 1/3 leaf length. | Isothecium cristatum |
1 | Secondary stems irregularly or regularly branched, not julaceous, or if julaceous regularly branched, sometimes dendroid; stem leaf alar regions small, to 1/10 leaf length | > 2 |
2 | Secondary stems 3-15 cm, often dendroid, stipe present, flagelliform tertiary branches rare. | Isothecium cardotii |
2 | Secondary stems 1-9 cm, sometimes closely pinnate, stipe short or absent, flagelliform tertiary branches often present | > 3 |
3 | Secondary stems pinnate; plants glossy. | Isothecium stoloniferum |
3 | Secondary stems pinnate or irregularly branched; plants not strongly glossy | > 4 |
4 | Secondary stems often pinnate, flagelliform branches sometimes present. | Isothecium stoloniferum |
4 | Secondary stems irregularly branched, flagelliform branches absent (present in I. myosuroides) | > 5 |
5 | Branchlet leaf apices blunt; margins slightly toothed in apex; stems julaceous. | Isothecium alopecuroides |
5 | Branchlet leaf apices attenuate; margins coarsely toothed; stems julaceous or not | > 6 |
6 | Branches of secondary system sharp-tipped; stems not julaceous. | Isothecium myosuroides |
6 | Branches of secondary system blunt; stems julaceous. | Isothecium stoloniferum |
Facts about "Isothecium"
Author | Wilfred B. Schofield† + |
Authority | Bridel + |
Distribution | North America +, Europe +, Asia +, Atlantic Islands + and Pacific Islands. + |
Etymology | Greek isos, equal, and theke, case, alluding to symmetric capsule + |
Illustrator | Patricia M. Eckel + |
Publication title | Bryol. Univ. + |
Publication year | 1827 + |
Reference | allen1983b +, allen1996a + and ryall2005a + |
Source xml | https://jpend@bitbucket.org/aafc-mbb/fna-data-curation.git/src/f6b125a955440c0872999024f038d74684f65921/coarse grained fna xml/V28/V28 971.xml + |
Taxon family | Lembophyllaceae + |
Taxon name | Isothecium + |
Taxon parent | Lembophyllaceae + |
Taxon rank | genus + |
Volume | Volume 28 + |