Leptostomopsis nivea

(Bescherelle) J. R. Spence

Phytologia 91: 498. 2009.

Illustrated
Basionym: Brachymenium niveum Bescherelle J. Bot. (Morot) 15: 383. 1901
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 28. Treatment on page 147. Mentioned on page 10, 127, 148.

Plants in dense cushions, turfs, or gregarious, pale yellow-silver. Stems 0.4–0.8 cm. Leaves erect to erect-spreading when moist, broadly ovate, somewhat concave, 0.2–1 mm; margins serrate near apex, limbidium present distally; apex acute, hyaline; costa long-excurrent, awn hyaline, straight to weakly recurved when dry; distal laminal cells hyaline, rhomboidal to almost vermicular, 30–40 µm, 4–6:1, walls thick, somewhat sinuate. [Capsule oblong, 2–3 mm; hypophysis slender, inconspicuous to somewhat well differentiated, sometimes expanded and rugose. Spores 20–23 µm].


Habitat: Dry volcanic rock, sandy soil, Madrean pine-oak woodlands in canyons, open playa edges
Elevation: moderate elevations (1000-1200 m)

Distribution

V28 236-distribution-map.gif

Ariz., Mexico, Central America.

Discussion

Leptostomopsis nivea was recently collected from two locations in southeastern Arizona, and the plants are very small for the species. One collection consisted of scattered plants in sandy calcareous soil along the edge of the Wilcox Playa, an unusual habitat for this species. This species occurs on trunks of trees or rarely on dry rock. It is reminiscent of Bryum argenteum, but the yellow cast, thick-walled, somewhat sinuate distal laminal cells, long awn, and serrate margins of the distal portions of the leaves easily distinguish this species.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Leptostomopsis nivea"
John R. Spence +
(Bescherelle) J. R. Spence +
Brachymenium niveum +
Ariz. +, Mexico +  and Central America. +
moderate elevations (1000-1200 m) +
Dry volcanic rock, sandy soil, Madrean pine-oak woodlands in canyons, open playa edges +
Illustrated +
Leptostomopsis nivea +
Leptostomopsis +
species +