Fissidens subbasilaris |
|
---|---|
fissidens moss |
|
Habit | Plants to 12 × 1.5–3.5 mm. |
Stem | branched; axillary hyaline nodules absent; central strand present. |
Leaves | as many as 28 pairs, sometimes ± undulate, oblong, obtuse-apiculate to acute, to 2.4 × 0.3–0.4 mm; dorsal lamina narrowed proximally, ending before or at insertion; vaginant laminae 1/2–2/3 leaf length, acute, ± unequal, minor lamina ending near margin; margin evenly crenulate-serrulate but irregularly serrate distally; costa ending 6–16 cells before apex, covered and obscured above by chlorophyllose cells, taxifolius-type; lamina cells irregularly 2-stratose, smooth, bulging, firm-walled, irregularly rounded-hexagonal, 7.5–10 µm. |
Seta | 1.5–5.5 mm. |
Sexual condition | gonioautoicous and cladautoicous; perigonia gemmiform, axillary, and on short branches; perichaetia on short axillary branches near proximal ends of stem. |
Capsule | theca 0.8–2.1 mm, erect, radially symmetric or nearly so; peristome taxifolius-type; operculum long rostrate, 0.6–0.9 mm. |
Calyptra | cucullate, smooth, 1.5 mm. |
Spores | 13–18 µm. |
Sporophytes | 1 per perichaetium. |
Fissidens subbasilaris |
|
Habitat | Particularly around bases of trees, also rocks, mostly limestone, infrequently decaying wood |
Distribution |
AL; AR; FL; GA; IA; IL; IN; KS; KY; LA; MA; MD; ME; MI; MO; MS; NC; NH; NY; OH; OK; PA; SC; TN; TX; VA; WI; WV; ON; QC; Mexico (San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas)
|
Discussion | Fissidens subbasilaris is distinguished, even in the field, by a costa obscured by chlorophyllose cells distally, and short perichaetial branches in the axils of proximal leaves. The plants are typically dark-green and often tinged with red. (Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.) |
Source | FNA vol. 27, p. 342. |
Parent taxa | Fissidentaceae > Fissidens |
Sibling taxa | |
Name authority | Hedwig: Sp. Musc. Frond., 155, plate 39, figs. 6–9. (1801) |
Web links |