Warnstorfia fluitans
Warnstorfia
floating hook-moss, warnstorfia moss
warnstorfia moss
leaves narrowly ovate to triangular-ovate, falcate or sometimes straight, concave or slightly so;
margins denticulate, sometimes only in part or indistinctly;
apex acuminate, not incurved;
costa to 1/2–4/5 leaf length, occasionally double or shorter;
alar region narrowly transversely triangular, supra-alar cells small, not forming region with alar cells.
leaves triangular to ovate, gradually narrowed to apex, straight or falcate, concave, not plicate;
base not decurrent or short-decurrent;
margins entire or denticulate;
apex acuminate, obtuse, or blunt;
costa single, 1/2–4/5 leaf length;
alar cells differentiated, quadrate or short- to long-rectangular, inflated, hyaline, walls thin, region somewhat indistinctly delimited, narrowly transversely triangular and from margins possibly to costa, or almost quadrate with supra-alar cells often in ovate group along basal margin;
medial laminal cell walls incrassate or thin, porose or not.
autoicous;
inner perichaetial leaves not plicate;
vaginula naked.
with annulus not separating;
exostome external surface reticulate proximally, margins dentate distally.
12–31 µm.
Warnstorfia fluitans
Warnstorfia
Warnstorfia fluitans is recognized by the somewhat indistinctly delimited transverse, more or less narrowly triangular alar regions in the stem leaves, and by the autoicous sexual condition. Warnstorfia pseudostraminea has alar regions that are sometimes transversely triangular (though more broadly so than in W. fluitans), but in some or most leaves the alar and large supra-alar cells together form an oval or rectangular region along the proximal leaf margins. Warnstorfia pseudostraminea has more or less straight to slightly falcate stem leaves, often with obtuse leaf apices having short cells, and the leaf apex is commonly hooked. However, neither of the last mentioned features are constant in W. pseudostraminea, and occasional (rare) specimens of W. fluitans have the same character states. Variety falcata (Drepanocladus fluitans var. uncatus) has been recognized, but because no type material seems to be extant, the status of this taxon cannot be evaluated.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Species 2 (2 in the flora).
Warnstorfia consists of autoicous species with leaves gradually curved to straight and gradually narrowed to the apex. Clear red pigments occur very rarely in very exposed situations. The alar regions are transversely triangular or isodiametric, and consist of inflated, and (at least when young) usually hyaline cells. Warnstorfia typically occurs in mineral-poor fens, W. fluitans sometimes also in bogs. Although the species are mostly found in nutrient-poor habitats, W. fluitans can stand considerable nutrient-enrichment as evidenced by polluted localities in Europe. Warnstorfia plants with falcate leaves and lacking sporophytes or perichaetia and perigonia can be confused with similar species of Sarmentypnum. The latter, however, frequently develop red pigments, have more sharply delimited transversely triangular alar regions, and are dioicous. In addition, Sarmentypnum is found mostly in intermediately mineral-rich rather than mineral-poor habitats.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
1. Alar regions narrowly transversely triangular; supra-alar cells small, not forming region with alar cells; stem leaf apices usually not incurved. | W. fluitans |
1. Alar regions isodiametric or sometimes transversely triangular; supra-alar cells large, forming oval or rectangular region with alar cells along basal margin; stem leaf apices incurved. | W. pseudostraminea |
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