Orthodontium gracile

(Wilson) Schwagrichen ex Bruch & Schimper

Bryol. Europ. 4: 70. 1844.

Illustrated
Basionym: Bryum gracile Wilson in J. E. Smith et al., Engl. Bot., suppl. 3: plate 2835. 1838
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 28. Treatment on page 115. Mentioned on page 114, 116.
Revision as of 22:00, 16 December 2019 by FNA>Volume Importer

Plants 0.5–2(–3) cm, glossy-vitreous. Stems with central strand absent. Leaves strongly flexuose distally when dry or moist, narrowly setaceous, (1–)2–3(–4.5) mm, 0.1–0.2 mm wide mid leaf, widest below mid leaf; margins broadly recurved; costa stereid cells absent. Sexual condition paroicous or polygamous; antheridia among perichaetial leaves below archegonia or in buds below perichaetium. Seta 0.4–0.5(–0.9) cm. Capsule subcylindric, (1–)1.5–2 mm, neck nearly as long as or to 1/3 capsule length; operculum short-rostrate; exostome teeth somewhat wider at base, smooth; endostome basal membrane absent, segments shorter than exostome teeth.


Phenology: Capsules mature winter–early spring.
Habitat: Moist creek ravines and canyons, base of cliffs, riparian forests of Acer, Alnus, Lithocarpus, Pseudotsuga, Sequoia, shaded decayed or charred logs and stumps, bark at base of trees, epiphytic on Sequoia sempervirens, peaty soil, soil over rock
Elevation: moderate elevations

Distribution

V28 182-distribution-map.gif

Calif., Oreg., sw Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, w Europe, Africa.

Discussion

W. Meijer (1951) depicted both the smooth exostome of Orthodontium gracile and the papillose one of O. pellucens with a median fissural line. The endostome of both species was drawn with the fissural line absent except at the base. As described and drawn by Meijer, the lengths of the endostomes of both species seem to be the same. Recent treatments of these characters diverge from Meijer.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Orthodontium gracile"
Patricia M. Eckel +
(Wilson) Schwagrichen ex Bruch & Schimper +
Bryum gracile +
Calif. +, Oreg. +, sw Mexico +, West Indies +, Central America +, South America +, w Europe +  and Africa. +
moderate elevations +
Moist creek ravines and canyons, base of cliffs, riparian forests of Acer, Alnus, Lithocarpus, Pseudotsuga, Sequoia, shaded decayed or charred logs and stumps, bark at base of trees, epiphytic on Sequoia sempervirens, peaty soil, soil over rock +
Capsules mature winter–early spring. +
Bryol. Europ. +
Illustrated +
Orthodontium gracile +
Orthodontium +
species +