Tortula atrovirens

(Smith) Lindberg

Öfvers. Kongl. Vetensk.-Akad. Förh. 21: 236. 1864,.

Basionym: Grimmia atrovirens Smith in J. E. Smith et al., Engl. Bot. 28: plate 2015. 1809
Synonyms: Desmatodon californicus Lesquereux Desmatodon convolutus (Bridel) Grout
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 27. Treatment on page 602. Mentioned on page 555, 571, 588, 589, 590, 592, 597.

Leaves ovate to lingulate, apex broadly acute to rounded, apiculate or mucronate, margins revolute or occasionally plane, often bordered proximally with rectangular cells usually hidden in the revolute margins; costa percurrent or ending in apiculus or short mucro, with an adaxial pad of swollen cells similar to those of the lamina, distally broad, (4–)6(–8) cells across adaxial surface; distal laminal cells subquadrate, 9–13(–18) µm wide, µm, 1:1; strongly papillose. Sexual condition autoicous. Sporophytes exerted. Seta 0.6–1.2 cm. Capsule stegocarpic, not systylius, cylindric to ellipsoidal, erect and nearly straight, urn 0.9–1.5 mm; peristome commonly 210–390 µm, teeth of 32 filaments, weakly twisted, occasionally rudimentary, basal membrane 40–50 µm; operculum 0.5–0.7 mm. Spores 15–18 µm, broadly ellipsoidal, nearly smooth.


Phenology: Capsules mature winter–spring.
Habitat: Exposed soil, volcanic ash, rock, often calcareous
Elevation: low to high elevations (0-2200 m)

Distribution

V27 866-distribution-map.gif

Alta., B.C., Ariz., Calif., Colo., Idaho, Minn., Nev., N.Mex., Tex., Utah, Mexico, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Atlantic Islands, Pacific Islands (Hawaii, New Zealand), Australia.

Discussion

Tortula atrovirens has a massive pad of bulging cells covering the costa, and may be mistaken for a Crossidium, which, however, has a ventral pad of filaments. It is somewhat similar to T. obtusifolia, which also has weakly differentiated, smooth, somewhat elongate marginal cells, but that species of more mesic climates and more northern latitudes has spatulate leaves lacking an adaxial pad.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Tortula atrovirens"
Richard H. Zander +  and Patricia M. Eckel +
(Smith) Lindberg +
Grimmia atrovirens +
Alta. +, B.C. +, Ariz. +, Calif. +, Colo. +, Idaho +, Minn. +, Nev. +, N.Mex. +, Tex. +, Utah +, Mexico +, South America +, Europe +, Asia +, Africa +, Atlantic Islands +, Pacific Islands (Hawaii +, New Zealand) +  and Australia. +
low to high elevations (0-2200 m) +
Exposed soil, volcanic ash, rock, often calcareous +
Capsules mature winter–spring. +
Öfvers. Kongl. Vetensk.-Akad. Förh. +
Desmatodon californicus +  and Desmatodon convolutus +
Tortula atrovirens +
species +