Sciuro-hypnum hylotapetum

(N. L. Higinbotham & B. L. Higinbotham) Ignatov & Huttunen

Arctoa 11: 270. 2003.

Endemic
Basionym: Brachythecium hylotapetum N. L. Higinbotham & B. L. Higinbotham Bryologist 61: 339, figs. 1 – 20. 1959
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 28. Treatment on page 463. Mentioned on page 455, 456.

Plants large, in loose tufts, whitish to pale yellowish. Stems to 10 cm, creeping, ascending to almost erect in dense growth, straight or flexuose, terete to complanate-foliate, irregularly pinnate, branches to 16 mm, slightly curved or flexuose, indistinctly to often distinctly complanate-foliate. Stem-leaves patent, loosely arranged, broadly ovate, moderately concave, not plicate, 2.2–3.7 × 1.3–2 mm; base narrowly short-decurrent; margins plane or recurved below broadest point of leaf, slightly serrulate to subentire, serrulate to serrate in apex; apex short-acuminate or apiculate; costa to 40–65% leaf length, broad near base, then evenly narrow, sometimes 2-fid, terminal abaxial spine absent; alar cells larger than juxtacostal cells, to 40–75 × 20–27 µm, walls thin, region indistinctly delimited; laminal cells linear, (80–) 110–155 (–185) × 7–13 µm; basal-cells shorter, broader than laminal cells, region in 2–4 rows. Branch leaves with margins more serrulate to serrate; apex more gradually acuminate. Sexual condition dioicous. Seta chestnut to purple-red, 1–3 cm, rough. Capsule horizontal, reddish, oblong, curved, length variable, 1.5–2.5 mm. Spores 12–20 µm.


Habitat: Litter, duff, rotten wood, rock and mineral soil in coniferous forests
Elevation: moderate elevations (800-1500 m)

Distribution

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Alta., B.C., Alaska, Calif., Colo., Idaho, Mont., Oreg., Wash.

Discussion

The endemic Sciuro-hypnum hylotapetum has been reported from Alaska (W. C. Steere 1978) and California (D. H. Norris and J. R. Shevock 2004). The species is easy to identify by its robust stature, leaves longer than 3 mm, and light green to whitish color. The usually apiculate leaves and recurved leaf margins near the insertion are also diagnostic. The plants are strongly glossy; the leaves are broadest at 1/7 the leaf length. Sporophytes are rare.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.

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... more about "Sciuro-hypnum hylotapetum"
dioicous +  and sexual +
acuminate +, apiculate +  and short-acuminate +
Michael S. Ignatov +
- N. L. Higinbotham & B. L. Higinbotham Ignatov & Huttunen +
short-decurrent +
rounded +  and narrowed +
long-decurrent +
short to long +
Brachythecium hylotapetum +
complanate-foliate +
flexuose;curved +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> - 1.6 cm16 mm <br />0.016 m <br /> +
cucullate +
0.15 cm1.5 mm <br />0.0015 m <br /> - 0.25 cm2.5 mm <br />0.0025 m <br /> +
specialized +
undifferentiated +
synoicous +, dioicous +, autoicous +, sexual +  and asexual +
subquadrate +  and short-rectangular +
larger +
differentiated +
20um +  and 27um +
3 - ? +  and 2 - ? +
discernible +
Alta. +, B.C. +, Alaska +, Calif. +, Colo. +, Idaho +, Mont. +, Oreg. +  and Wash. +
moderate elevations - 800-1500 m +
not adherent +
Litter, duff, rotten wood, rock and mineral soil in coniferous forests +
autoicous +  and sexual +
7um - ? +  and 13um - ? +
serrulate +  and serrate +
slightly serrulate +  and subentire +
short-rostrate +, conic +  and long-conic +
perfect +  and xerocastique +
hygrocastique +
broadest +
2 +  and 4 +
chestnut +  and purple-red +
1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br /> - 3 cm30 mm <br />0.03 m <br /> +
2.2mm;3.7mm +
concave +  and ovate +
complanate-foliate +
reddish +  and green +
flexuose;straight +
erect +  and ascending to almost +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> - 10 cm100 mm <br />0.1 m <br /> +
Sciuro-hypnum hylotapetum +
Sciuro-hypnum +
species +
incrassate +
whitish +  and pale yellowish +