Fissidens curvatus |
|
---|---|
|
|
Habit | Plants 1.2–10 × 1–2.5 mm. |
Stem | unbranched and branched; axillary hyaline nodules present; central strand weak or absent. |
Leaves | as many as 25 pairs, narrowly lanceolate to ovate–lanceolate, acute to sharply acute to short acuminate, to 1.9 × 0.3; dorsal lamina narrowed proximally, ending before or at insertion, infrequently ± decurrent; vaginant laminae 1/2–4/5 leaf length, ± equal, minor lamina ending on or near margin; margin entire, limbate on all laminae, limbidium confluent at apex or ending shortly before apex, extending to base of dorsal lamina, limbidial cells 2–3-stratose; costa percurrent to excurrent, bryoides-type; laminal cells 1-stratose, distinct, smooth, ± bulging, firm-walled, elongate, 7–22 × 4–13 µm, increasing in size toward proximal part of leaf. |
Seta | to 12 mm. |
Sexual condition | rhizoautoicous; perigonia gemmiform, proximal to infertile and fertile stems. |
Capsule | theca exserted, ± erect, radially symmetric to inclined, arcuate, bilaterally symmetic, 0.35–1.25 mm; peristome bryoides-type; operculum 0.25–0.3 µm. Calyptra cucullate, smooth, 0.5 mm. |
Spores | 11–18 µm. |
Sporophytes | 1 per perichaetium. |
Fissidens curvatus |
|
Habitat | Bare, shaded soil, often among grasses in open Quercus forests and around bases of coastal shrubs |
Distribution |
CA; Mexico; South America; West Indies; Europe; Asia; Africa; Pacific Islands (New Caledonia, New Zealand); Australia |
Discussion | Fissidens curvatus is distinguished by its delicate dimorphic stems, usually long excurrent costa, limbidium confluent at leaf apex, and slightly elongate laminal cells. The theca is usually arcuate but can also be erect. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 27, p. 347. |
Parent taxa | Fissidentaceae > Fissidens |
Sibling taxa | |
Synonyms | F. milobakeri |
Name authority | Hornschuch: Linnaea 15: 148. (1841) |
Web links |