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pseudoleskeella moss

Habit Plants dark olive green or rarely yellow-green. Plants green to yellow-green, older stems golden.
Stem(s)

leaves ± catenulate when dry, not homomallous, ovate, abruptly narrowed to apex, concave, not plicate, 0.4–1.2 mm, 1.5–2:1;

base flaring;

margins plane or rarely recurved proximally, entire;

apex short-acuminate, sometimes falcate;

costa usually double, or single, 2-fid, or sometimes ecostate, weak, not reaching mid leaf;

medial laminal cells 1–2(–3):1, walls firm, not incrassate.

leaves not catenulate when dry, not homomallous, ovate, gradually or abruptly narrowed to apex, concave, strongly and distinctly 2-plicate, 0.6–1.5(–2) mm, 3:1;

base flaring, cordate;

margins recurved to mid leaf or beyond on one or both sides, distinctly serrulate distally;

apex short-acuminate to acuminate, often falcate;

costa single, strong, reaching mid leaf to percurrent;

medial laminal cells 2(–3):1, walls firm, not incrassate.

Branch leaves

ovate to suborbicular, 0.4–0.8 mm;

laminal cell walls moderately incrassate.

ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 0.4–0.8 mm;

laminal cell walls thick.

Seta

red-brown, 0.1–0.2 cm.

red-brown, 0.1–0.2 cm.

Capsule

inclined, subcylindric, asymmetric, 1.5–2.5(–3) mm.

inclined, subcylindric, asymmetric, 1–2 mm.

Spores

10–18 µm.

10–16 µm.

Stoloniferous

leaves broadly ovate or suborbicular.

leaves broadly ovate or suborbicular.

Pseudoleskeella tectorum

Pseudoleskeella arizonae

Phenology Capsules mature summer. Capsules mature summer.
Habitat Shaded calcareous rock, shaded tree bases or wood Shaded calcareous rock, shaded tree bases, wood, soil over rock
Elevation low to high elevations (0-4000 m) (low to high elevations (0-13100 ft)) moderate to high elevations (1000-3500 m) (moderate to high elevations (3300-11500 ft))
Distribution
from FNA
AK; AZ; CA; CO; ID; KS; MI; MN; MT; ND; NE; NM; NV; OR; SD; UT; WY; AB; BC; NL; NT; NU; ON; QC; SK; Greenland; Eurasia
[WildflowerSearch map]
from FNA
AZ; CO; NM; UT; Mexico (Durango)
Discussion

Pseudoleskeella tectorum is distinguished by the dark green, tightly appressed, catenulate leaves, and weak costa. Thin mats of this species can be become quite extensive over time, covering the faces and overhangs of shaded boulders and cliffs.

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

Pseudoleskeella arizonae is somewhat anomalous in the genus, and has been moved among four different genera since its description. The species is very similar to a small Pseudoleskea, but differs in the lack of paraphyllia. However, there are collections of other species of Pseudoleskea that occasionally produce few if any paraphyllia. The leaves are also similar to those of Pseudoleskea. Molecular data are probably needed to determine its correct placement; it may represent a new genus.

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

Source FNA vol. 28, p. 365. FNA vol. 28, p. 363.
Parent taxa Leskeaceae > Pseudoleskeella Leskeaceae > Pseudoleskeella
Sibling taxa
P. arizonae, P. rupestris, P. serpentinensis
P. rupestris, P. serpentinensis, P. tectorum
Synonyms Hypnum tectorum, Pseudoleskea tectorum Pseudoleskea arizonae, Lescuraea arizonae, Leskeella arizonae
Name authority (Funck ex Bridel) Kindberg ex Brotherus: in H. G. A. Engler and K. Prantl, Nat. Pflanze n fam. 229[I,3]: 997. (1907) (R. S. Williams) E. Lawton: Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 84: 351. (1957)
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