Sematophyllum demissum
Sematophyllum
sematophyllum moss
sematophyllum moss
0.5–2.5 cm, branches sometimes ascending.
0.3–5 cm, not complanate-foliate, irregularly branched.
straight or occasionally homomallous, oblong-ovate, tapering gradually to apex, 1–1.2 mm;
margins reflexed proximally;
apex acute;
alar cells enlarged, inflated, yellow, in 1 row, supra-alar cells few, quadrate to short;
laminal cells rhombic to flexuose.
erect-spreading to falcate-secund, often homomallous, oblong-lanceolate, oblong-ovate, or ovate;
margins entire;
apex acute to acuminate; ecostate or costa double;
alar cells elongate, somewhat to strongly enlarged and inflated, pigmented or rarely unpigmented, walls thin, region in 1–several rows, middle lamella not apparent, supra-alar cells differentiated;
laminal cells rhomboidal, elliptic, or flexuose, smooth.
0.8–1.2 cm.
0.4–2 cm.
autoicous [dioicous].
inclined to horizontal, 1 mm.
inclined to horizontal or rarely erect, short-cylindric;
exothecial cell walls collenchymatous;
operculum rostrate.
asexual reproduction absent.
Sematophyllum demissum
Sematophyllum
Sematophyllum demissum resembles Hageniella micans in many respects, but H. micans is distinguished by its strong double costa and toothed acumen. Also, exothecial cells of Sematophyllum are collenchymatous; those of Hageniella are not.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Species ca. 50 (4 in the flora).
As W. R. Buck (1998b) has noted, Sematophyllum is a catch-all genus in need of a world monograph; however, the four North American species are reasonably treated in Sematophyllum. The genus is confined to eastern forests in the flora area, and introduced to California, where it is rare. The plants have red-brown stems with foliose pseudoparaphyllia; the medial laminal cells are rhomboidal to flexuose.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Leaves tapering abruptly to apex; plants dull. | S. subpinnatum |
1. Leaves tapering gradually to apex; plants glossy | → 2 |
2. Plants medium-sized to large; leaves 1.5-2 mm; alar cells in several rows; usually on rock. | S. marylandicum |
2. Plants small to medium-sized; leaves usually less than 1.4 mm; alar cells in 1 row; epiphytic or occasionally on rock | → 3 |
3. Capsules erect; growing on wood, logs, tree bases, occasionally rock. | S. adnatum |
3. Capsules inclined to horizontal; commonly growing on rock near streams. | S. demissum |
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