Pohlia melanodon

(Bridel) A. J. Shaw

Bryologist 84: 506. 1982.

Illustrated
Basionym: Bryum melanodon Bridel Bryol. Univ. 1: 845. 1827
Synonyms: B. carneum Withering B. delicatulum Hedwig
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 28. Treatment on page 210. Mentioned on page 194, 196, 211.

Plants small, dark green, not glossy. Stems 0.3–1 cm. Leaves erect-spreading to spreading, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, 0.7–1.3 mm; base not or scarcely decurrent; margins weakly serrulate in distal 1/3; apex acute or short-acuminate; costa ending well before apex; distal medial laminal cells laxly and broadly rhomboidal, 60–100 µm, walls thin. Specialized asexual reproduction absent. Sexual condition dioicous; perigonial leaves ovate; perichaetial leaves scarcely differentiated, lanceolate. Seta orange-brown. Capsule inclined ± 180°, brown to red-brown, sometimes stramineous, short-pyriform to urceolate, neck less than 1/3 urn length; exothecial cells isodiametric, walls sinuate; stomata immersed; annulus absent; operculum short- to long-conic; exostome teeth dark brown to red-brown, triangular-acute; endostome yellow to yellow-brown, basal membrane 1/2 exostome length or slightly longer, segments tapered apically, distinctly keeled, broadly perforate, cilia long, nodulose. Spores 13–18 µm, finely roughened.


Phenology: Capsules mature spring (Apr–Jun).
Habitat: Disturbed clay or rarely sandy soil, path banks, along streams
Elevation: low elevations

Distribution

V28 338-distribution-map.gif

Ont., Ark., Ill., Ind., Maine, Md., Mich., N.Y., N.C., Vt., Va., W.Va., Europe.

Discussion

Pohlia melanodon has soft, dark green, rather broad ovate-lanceolate leaves with lax, thin-walled cells. The species does not produce elongate sterile cushions as does P. wahlenbergii; even when sterile, the plants have short stems and are rather densely leafy. Pohlia melanodon is more common in eastern North America than collections indicate; it is often sterile and for that reason rarely collected. The exothecial cell walls of capsules of this species are somewhat collenchymatous.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Pohlia melanodon"
A. Jonathan Shaw +
(Bridel) A. J. Shaw +
Bryum melanodon +
Ont. +, Ark. +, Ill. +, Ind. +, Maine +, Md. +, Mich. +, N.Y. +, N.C. +, Vt. +, Va. +, W.Va. +  and Europe. +
low elevations +
Disturbed clay or rarely sandy soil, path banks, along streams +
Capsules mature spring (Apr–Jun). +
Illustrated +
B. carneum +  and B. delicatulum +
Pohlia melanodon +
species +