Brachydontium olympicum

(E. Britton) T. T. McIntosh & J. R. Spence

Bryologist 89: 200. 1986,.

Basionym: Grimmia olympica E. Britton Bryologist 13: 59, plate 7. 1910
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 27. Treatment on page 328.

Stems 2–5 mm. Leaves 1–2.5 mm, distal laminal cells mostly isodiametric, 1: 1, with a few cells 2: 1 or transversely elongate, areolation somewhat irregular, proximal cells longer. Seta 0.5–2 mm, flexuose when dry. Capsule spherical to short-ovate, 0.4–0.6 mm. Peristome absent. Spores 6–10 µm.


Habitat: Moist, acidic boulders, montane, predominantly alpine

Distribution

B.C., Alaska, Oreg., Wash., e Asia (Japan)

Discussion

The spherical or short-ovate capsules absent peristome teeth and the somewhat shorter distal laminal cells distinguish Brachydontium olympicum from B. trichodes. This is a circum-North Pacific montane species, which should be sought for in coastal areas of Siberia.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Brachydontium olympicum"
Dale H. Vitt +  and John R. Spence +
(E. Britton) T. T. McIntosh & J. R. Spence +
Grimmia olympica +
subcucullate +  and mitrate to sometimes +
spherical +  and short-ovate +
0.04 cm0.4 mm <br />4.0e-4 m <br /> (0.06 cm0.6 mm <br />6.0e-4 m <br />) +
2 +  and few +
enlarged +
not differentiated +
B.C. +, Alaska +, Oreg. +, Wash. +  and e Asia (Japan) +
Moist, acidic boulders, montane, predominantly alpine +
generally erect-spreading;spreading-recurved +
linear;stoutly subulate +
0.1 cm1 mm <br />0.001 m <br /> (0.25 cm2.5 mm <br />0.0025 m <br />) +
entire +  and denticulate +
dioicous +, autoicous +  and sexual +
flexuose +
cygneous +
0.05 cm0.5 mm <br />5.0e-4 m <br /> (0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br />) +
0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br /> (0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br />) +
Brachydontium olympicum +
Brachydontium +
species +
triangular +
unbranched;rarely 2-3-branched +
larger +  and minute +