Oncophorus

(Bridel) Bridel

Bryol. Univ. 1: 389. 1826 ,.

Etymology: Greek onkos, tumor, and phoros, bearing, alluding to goiterlike swelling (struma) at base of capsule
Basionym: Dicranum sect. Oncophorus Bridel Muscol. Recent., suppl. 4: 53. 1819
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 27. Treatment on page 423. Mentioned on page 360, 377, 421, 431.
 TaxonIllustrator 
Dicr Oncophorus rauei & virens 2007 01 16.jpegOncophorus rauei
Oncophorus virens
Patricia M. Eckel
Patricia M. Eckel

Plants erect, in loose to dense tufts, green to yellowbrown, glossy to somewhat dull. Stems 1–5 (–8) cm, erect-spreading, simple or branching, radiculose proximally. Leaves lanceolate from an ovate base, gradually narrowed to abruptly subulate, crisped and curled when dry; margins plane or revolute, entire or often toothed at apex; costa strong, percurrent to slightly excurrent, narrow, with 2 stereid bands; distal laminal cells short-rectangular to subquadrate, smooth; basal laminal cells rectangular, elongate, smooth, alar cells poorly differentiated or sometimes slightly enlarged. Sexual condition autoicous; perichaetial leaves similar to the cauline; perigonia located below perichaetia. Seta 5–20 (–22) mm, erect, twisted when dry, yellow to reddish yellow. Capsule inclined to horizontal, yellowbrown, arcuate, cylindric, urn 0.8–2 mm, constricted below the mouth, furrowed or smooth when dry, distinctively strumose; operculum rostrate, arcuate; peristome single, of 16 teeth divided halfway into two segments, vertically pitted-striolate proximally, papillose distally, red. Calyptra cucullate, smooth. Spores spheric, 14–25 µm, finely roughened, yellow to yellow-green.

Distribution

North America, Europe, Asia

Discussion

Species ca. 6 (3 in the flora).

Oncophorus is frequently encountered near stream habitats. The species may be confused with those of Dicranum, Dicranella, or Kiaeria, but are distinguished by distinctively strumose capsules and abruptly subulate leaves, which are strongly crisped-contorted when dry.

Key

1 Leaves keeled or folded, margins revolute, not sheathing at the base, gradually narrowed to the acumen Oncophorus virens
1 Leaves flat, margins plane, sheathing at the base, abruptly narrowed to the acumen > 2
2 Plants dark, not contorted when dry, seta usually less than 8 mm. Oncophorus rauei
2 Plants lighter, contorted when dry, seta usually more than 8 mm. Oncophorus wahlenbergii
... more about "Oncophorus"
persistent +  and deciduous +
Steven G. Newmaster +
(Bridel) Bridel +
short to long +
Dicranum sect. Oncophorus +
microphyllous +
pseudomonoicous +, dioicous +, autoicous +  and sexual +
reproduction +  and asexual +
cucullate +
inclined +  and horizontal +
cylindric +
papillose +  and mammillose +
autoicous +  and sexual +
enlarged +
differentiated +
percurrent;slightly excurrent +
North America +, Europe +  and Asia +
Greek onkos, tumor, and phoros, bearing, alluding to goiterlike swelling (struma) at base of capsule +
falcate-secund +
curled +, crisped +, gradually narrowed +  and abruptly subulate +
toothed +, revolute +  and plane +
nonpitted +  and pitted +
toothed +  and forked +
red +  and pitted-striolate +
undifferentiated +
Bryol. Univ. +
allen2000a +
2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br /> (2.2 cm22 mm <br />0.022 m <br />) +
yellow;reddish yellow +
flexuose +  and straight +
cygneous +  and elongate +
0.5 cm5 mm <br />0.005 m <br /> (2 cm20 mm <br />0.02 m <br />) +
yellow +  and yellow-green +
spheric +
branching;simple +
5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br /> (8 cm80 mm <br />0.08 m <br />) +
erect-spreading +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> (5 cm50 mm <br />0.05 m <br />) +
superficial +
Oncophorus +
Dicranaceae +
deciduous +
divided +
smooth +  and furrowed +
strumose +
constricted +
0.08 cm0.8 mm <br />8.0e-4 m <br /> (0.2 cm2 mm <br />0.002 m <br />) +
green +  and yellowbrown +
dull +  and glossy to somewhat +