Microbryum starckeanum var. fosbergii

(E. B. Bartram) R. H. Zander

Bull. Buffalo Soc. Nat. Sci. 32: 240. 1993,.

Basionym: Pottia fosbergii (E. B. Bartram) J. Guerra Bryologist 33: 18. 1930
Synonyms: Phascum fosbergii
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 27. Treatment on page 629. Mentioned on page 593, 628.

Stem leaves mucronate to short-awned. Capsule cleistocarpous, peristome rarely differentiated internally, operculum absent or occasionally weakly differentiated. Spores both tuberculate and papillose, occasionally nearly smooth.


Phenology: Capsules mature in early spring (Mar).
Habitat: Soil
Elevation: low to moderate elevations

Distribution

V27 923-distribution-map.gif

Calif., Mexico (Baja California).

Discussion

Variety fosbergii has elliptical capsules that lack both a differentiated operculum and a peristome (except California: Ikenberry, CANM, which has a weakly differentiated operculum and rudimentary peristome teeth). This variety apparently has spores that are both tuberculate and papillose (also true in the type), occasionally nearly smooth. If the spores are unreduced (though there is no evidence they are), then hybridization would be implicated. R. M. Ros et al. (1994) have described from Spain a putative hybrid between Microbryum starckeanum and Tortula protobryoides (as Pottia bryoides), which is evidently much the same as the var. fosbergii.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
Richard H. Zander +
(E. B. Bartram) R. H. Zander +
Pottia fosbergii +
Calif. +  and Mexico (Baja California). +
low to moderate elevations +
Capsules mature in early spring (Mar). +
Bull. Buffalo Soc. Nat. Sci. +
Phascum fosbergii +
Microbryum starckeanum var. fosbergii +
Microbryum starckeanum +
variety +