Pseudoleskea radicosa
Pseudoleskea incurvata
pseudoleskea moss
pseudoleskea moss
with branches robust, julaceous, apices usually curving up;
central strand present;
paraphyllia many, filamentous to foliose, branched.
with branches robust, julaceous, apices curving up;
central strand present;
paraphyllia many, filamentous to foliose, branched.
appressed to somewhat erect when dry, erect-spreading when moist, glossy or dull, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, asymmetric, usually falcate to falcate-secund, 0.6–2(–2.4) mm;
margins narrowly recurved to mid leaf or to near acumen;
apex abruptly acute to short- or long-acuminate, hair-point absent;
costa subpercurrent to percurrent, yellow-green, sometimes sinuate;
alar cells transversely elongate to quadrate, region small to medium-sized;
medial laminal cells homogeneous, short-rhomboidal, elliptic, or fusiform, to 40 µm, 2–3(–4):1, pellucid to opaque, prorate to near base, lumina larger than 10 µm, walls thin or rarely firm, not pitted;
apical cells 2–3:1;
juxtacostal cells somewhat shorter than more distal cells, walls not pitted.
appressed to somewhat erect when dry, erect-spreading when moist, glossy or dull, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, asymmetric, usually falcate to falcate-secund, 0.8–2(–2.5) mm;
margins strongly and narrowly recurved to near acumen;
apex abruptly acute to short- or rarely long-acuminate, hair-point absent;
costa subpercurrent to percurrent, orange-green, sometimes sinuate;
alar cells transversely elongate to quadrate, region large;
medial laminal cells heterogeneous, elliptic or isodiametric, to 25 µm, 1–2(–3):1, opaque or sometimes pellucid, prorate to near base, lumina smaller than 8 µm, walls firm to strongly incrassate, not pitted;
apical cells 1–2:1;
juxtacostal cells somewhat shorter than more distal cells, walls not pitted.
erect to suberect, symmetric, 1–2 mm;
endostome basal membrane 1/4–1/3 exostome length, segments shorter than exostome, cilia usually present, 1 or 2, sometimes reduced.
erect to suberect, symmetric, 1–2.5 mm;
endostome basal membrane 1/4–1/3 exostome length, segments shorter than exostome, cilia 1 or 2.
16–22 µm.
10–20 µm.
Pseudoleskea radicosa
Pseudoleskea incurvata
Varieties 3 (3 in the flora).
Pseudoleskea radicosa is a common and variable species found at moderate to high elevations; the capsules mature in summer. Two of the three varieties are quite distinctive. Pseudoleskea radicosa is closely related to P. incurvata but differs in the longer, more homogeneous, thin-walled, and wider laminal cells. Combined ecological, molecular and morphological studies of the varieties are needed to determine their distinctiveness.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Varieties 11 (3 in the flora).
Pseudoleskea incurvata is a complex and highly variable species; the capsules mature in summer. Most plants can be distinguished from P. radicosa by the thick-walled proximal and medial laminal cells that are mostly short, and by the relatively short cells in the acumen. Although there are intermediate specimens, the three varieties are often quite distinct. Combined ecological, molecular and morphological studies of the varieties are needed to determine their distinctiveness.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Plants large; stem apices hooked; branches few or absent; leaves 1.6-2.3 mm, strongly falcate-secund, pluriplicate; apices long-acuminate. | var. denudata |
1. Plants small to medium-sized; stem apices not distinctly hooked; branches many; leaves usually less than 1.6 mm, straight, falcate, or falcate-secund, 2-plicate; apices predominantly short-acuminate to acute | → 2 |
2. Plants medium-sized; leaves weakly to moderately concave, not incurved, 1.2-1.7 mm; apices usually long-acuminate; medial laminal cells opaque. | var. radicosa |
2. Plants small; leaves strongly concave, often incurved, 0.8-1.3 mm; apices acute to short-acuminate; medial laminal cells pellucid. | var. compacta |
1. Plants large; leaves 1.5-2.5 mm, distinctly falcate-secund; apices long-acuminate; laminal cell prorulae indistinct. | var. gigantea |
1. Plants small to medium-sized; leaves smaller than1.5 mm, straight, falcate, or falcate-secund; apices usually short-acuminate to acute; laminal cell prorulae distinct | → 2 |
2. Leaves 1-1.5 mm; apices acute to short-acuminate to acuminate; medial laminal cells elliptic, corners rounded. | var. incurvata |
2. Leaves 0.8-1.1 mm; apices abruptly acute to short-acuminate; medial laminal cells isodiametric, corners angular. | var. tenuiretis |
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