Aschisma kansanum

A. L. Andrews

Torreya 15: 63. 1915,.

Treatment appears in FNA Volume 27. Treatment on page 519.

Protonema persistent as a thick green adherent felt. Leaves with strongly bordered and serrulate margins, distal laminal cell strongly bulging, papillae centered over lumens, mucro strongly denticulate. Capsule exothecial cells rectangular, 4–5: 1, mostly ca. 13–18 µm wide. Spores 18–20 µm, weakly ornamented.


Phenology: Capsules mature Apr.
Habitat: Usually under translucent rocks in exposed situations
Elevation: moderate elevations

Discussion

Of conservation concern.

Aschisma kansanum is endemic to the United States, being restricted to High Plains grassland (Gary L. Smith 1990) in three counties in west-central Kansas. Its persistent protonema and habitat are distinctive. This tiny, very rare species is threatened by over-collecting and grazing.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Aschisma kansanum"
0.06 cm0.6 mm <br />6.0e-4 m <br /> (0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br />) +
of 1-2 rows +  and differentiated +
long-excurrent +  and short-excurrent +
rounded-acute +
Richard H. Zander +
A. L. Andrews +
reniform +  and rounded +
rectangular +
papillose +  and smooth +
usually slightly wider +
differentiated +
Undefined subfam. Trichostomaceae +
obovoid +
short-triangular +
yellowish-brown +
cleistocarpous +  and stegocarpous +
0.3 cm3 mm <br />0.003 m <br /> (?) +
monoicous +, sexual +  and asexual +
on both exposed surfaces +, bulging +  and flat +
vesiculose +  and thick-walled +
few +  and several +
elongate +
tomentose +  and bare +
denticulate +
entire +  and sharply serrulate +
moderate elevations +
differentiated +
multicellular +
Usually under translucent rocks in exposed situations +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br />) +
yellow +  and orange-red or red +
0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br /> (0.35 cm3.5 mm <br />0.0035 m <br />) +
concave;keeled;channeled;ovoid;lanceolate or lingulate +
spreading +  and incurved +
concave +, falcate +, triangular +  and short-lanceolate +
reduced +
denticulate +
short-conic;short-rostrate +
photosynthetic +
compound +, simple +, hollow +  and solid +
centered over lumens +, scattered +  and crowded +
lateral +  and terminal +
lateral +  and terminal +
red +, orange +  and yellow +
consisting of 16 mostly 2 times cleft spiculose striate or papillose lanceolate teeth , , , , +  and rudimentary +
Capsules mature Apr. +
straight +
papillose +
straight +
elongate +
50 cm500 mm <br />0.5 m <br /> (?) +
2 +  and 1 +
2 times 0.2-0.3 mm rough +
yellow +, laminal +  and yellowish-brown +
4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br /> (10 cm100 mm <br />0.1 m <br />) +
rounded-pentagonal +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (?) +
Phascum subg. Aschisma +
Aschisma kansanum +
Aschisma +
species +
ovoid;cylindric +
orange +  and yellow +
thin +  and evenly thickened +
stemless +  and perigoniate +
plant +, forming a thin mat +  and gregarious +