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pseudocrossidium moss

Stem(s)

leaves ovate to short-lanceolate, 1.5–1.9 mm including the awn, distal margins strongly recurved to once revolute;

apex rounded-obtuse below the awn;

costa ending in a short awn, adaxial surface of costa at mid leaf concave, with 4 guide cells;

distal laminal cells 12–15 µm wide, 1:1.

leaves ovate-ligulate to ovate-lanceolate, 1–2 mm, distal margins usually twice revolute;

apex rounded-obtuse;

costa ending in an apiculus or short mucro, rarely long-mucronate or short-awned, adaxial surface of costa at mid leaf concave, with (4–)6 guide cells;

distal laminal cells 8–10 µm wide, 1:1.

Specialized

asexual reproduction absent.

asexual reproduction absent.

[perichaetial leaves not differentiated.] sporophytes not seen.

[perichaetial leaves weakly differentiated, elliptical.] sporophytes not seen.

Pseudocrossidium crinitum

Pseudocrossidium replicatum

Habitat Soil, sand, sandstone, limestone, basalt, shale, boulders, ledges, deserts Soil, limy shale, boulders, lava, canyons, shady banks, bluffs
Elevation moderate to high elevations (500-2000 m) (moderate to high elevations (1600-6600 ft)) moderate elevations (900-1600 m) (moderate elevations (3000-5200 ft))
Distribution
from FNA
AZ; NM; NV; TX; UT; Mexico; South America; Africa; Australia
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from FNA
AZ; NM; TX; Mexico; South America; Africa (Kenya)
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Discussion

Pseudocrossidium crinitum, when the awn is short, can be distinguished from P. replicatum (forms of which may have strongly mucronate leaf apices) by the large area of differentiated parenchymatous cells on the abaxial lateral surface of the costa on both sides adjacent to the laminal insertion on the costa, easily seen in section at mid leaf and often deep yellow in color, appearing as a row of ocelli; the leaf marginal cells are very thin-walled. This essentially southern species reaches its northern range extension in western United States E. B. Bartram 1924; R. H. Zander 1993). An exceptionally robust collection of P. crinitum from Mexico (Puebla, Azumbilla, Zander 4899, BUF) has two layers of guide cells in the costa, but this is very unusual.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Pseudocrossidium replicatum is distinguishable from P. crinitum by its usually apiculate apex, twice-revolute leaf margins—these enclosing thin-walled cells, and smaller distal laminal cells, these strongly bulging on both sides though this obscured by dense papillae. It is quite similar to Tortula atrovirens, the basis for an erroneous report of that species from Colorado by W. A. Weber (1973), but differs by its crescent-shaped costal section (rounded in the latter species) and thin-walled leaf marginal cells. Pseudocrossidium replicatum is characteristic of the Latin American cordillera and arid Mexico reaching north to the western United States.

(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)

Source FNA vol. 27, p. 570. FNA vol. 27, p. 571.
Parent taxa Pottiaceae > subfam. Barbuloideae > Pseudocrossidium Pottiaceae > subfam. Barbuloideae > Pseudocrossidium
Sibling taxa
P. hornschuchianum, P. obtusulum, P. replicatum
P. crinitum, P. hornschuchianum, P. obtusulum
Synonyms Barbula crinita, Barbula aurea, P. aureum, Tortula aurea Barbula replicata, Barbula spiralis, Tortula spiralis
Name authority (Schultz) R. H. Zander: Bull. Buffalo Soc. Nat. Sci. 32: 119. (1993) (Taylor) R. H. Zander: Phytologia 44: 206. (1979)
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