Leptodontium flexifolium

(Dickson) Hampe

Öfvers. Kongl. Vetensk.-Akad. Förh. 21: 227. 1864,.

Basionym: Bryum flexifolium Dickson Fasc. Pl. Crypt. Brit. 4: [29]. 1801
Synonyms: Leptodontium flexifolium var. americanum (Grout) Grout Leptodontium orcuttii Zygodon gracilis var. americanum Grout
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 27. Treatment on page 575.

Stems to 1 cm. Leaves 0.7–0.9 mm, ligulate to short-lanceolate, bordered distally by 1–5 rows of less papillose, thick-walled cells; apex broadly acute; costa ending 2–4 cells before the apex, abaxially papillose; distal laminal cells 10–12 µm wide, 1: 1, walls thin in medial portion of leaf, lumens quadrate, proximal cells thin-walled throughout.


Habitat: Soil, rarely on decorticating bark, rocks
Elevation: moderate to high elevations (1400-2200 m)

Distribution

V27 825-distribution-map.gif

Ariz., N.Mex., N.C., Tex., Mexico, Central America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Pacific Islands (Hawaii)

Discussion

Leptodontium flexifolium is a rare species found in rocky places at higher elevations in the southern Appalachians and in the southwestern states. The gemmae that are commonly found on stalks in leaf axils elsewhere were not seen in the flora area. The dentate, bordered leaves are immediately diagnostic of this species, while the anatomical characters of the genus will confirm the identification. Subfossils 40,000 years old have been found (J. A. Janssens and R. H. Zander 1980) at a site in the Yukon. Dichodontium pellucidum is commonly mistaken for this species, but is easily distinguished by the dentate distal abaxial surface of the costa. Barbula convoluta is also similar but has quadrate adaxial costal cells and a distinct stem central strand.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Leptodontium flexifolium"
channeled +, keeled +, oblong +  and lingulate +
of 1-2 rows +  and differentiated +
long-excurrent +  and short-excurrent +
1/3 +  and 3/4 +
Richard H. Zander +
(Dickson) Hampe +
crescent--shaped +
papillose +  and smooth +
usually slightly wider +
rectangular +
Bryum flexifolium +
obovoid +
mitrate +  and cucullate +
cleistocarpous +  and stegocarpous +
autoicous +, dioicous +  and sexual +
thin or;evenly collenchymatously thickened +
thick-walled +
2 +  and 4 +
papillose +
elongate-rhomboid +  and elongate +
tomentose +  and bare +
ending 1-6(-15) cells +, percurrent +  and excurrent +
papillose +
obtuse +  and rounded +
1-stratose +  and porose +
Ariz. +, N.Mex. +, N.C. +, Tex. +, Mexico +, Central America +, South America +, Europe +, Asia +, Africa +  and Pacific Islands (Hawaii) +
moderate to high elevations (1400-2200 m) +
differentiated +
multicellular +
Soil, rarely on decorticating bark, rocks +
usually much longer +
yellow +  and orange-red or red +
thin-walled +  and porose +
orange +  and yellowish orange +
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 +
bordered +  and ligulate +
spreading +  and squarrose-recurved +
short-lanceolate +
reduced +
0.07 cm0.7 mm <br />7.0e-4 m <br /> (0.09 cm0.9 mm <br />9.0e-4 m <br />) +
quadrate +
dentate +  and entire +
short-conic;short-rostrate +
photosynthetic +
hollow +  and simple +
columnar +  and 2-fid +
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 +
hyaline +  and brownish +
2 (?) +  and 5 (?) +
across base +  and differentiated +
long-decurrent +
Öfvers. Kongl. Vetensk.-Akad. Förh. +
straight +
elongate +
2 +  and 1 +
4 cm40 mm <br />0.04 m <br /> (10 cm100 mm <br />0.1 m <br />) +
elongate +
0 cm0 mm <br />0 m <br /> (1 cm10 mm <br />0.01 m <br />) +
Leptodontium flexifolium var. americanum +, Leptodontium orcuttii +  and Zygodon gracilis var. americanum +
Leptodontium flexifolium +
Leptodontium +
species +
ovoid;cylindric +
thick-walled +
red +  and yellow +
stemless +  and perigoniate +
yellow;orangebrown distally +
occasionally smaller than the perichaetiate +