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Published In: Botanische Zeitung (Berlin) 11(18): 329. 1853. (6 May 1853) (Bot. Zeitung (Berlin)) Name publication detailView in Biodiversity Heritage Library
 

Project Name Data (Last Modified On 10/22/2013)
Acceptance : Accepted
Note : By Richard H. Zander, Brent Mishler, and Howard Crum
Project data     (Last Modified On 10/22/2013)
Distribution: The Pottiaceae are a large family of nearly worldwide distribution. Most of the species grow on soil in places subject to frequent desiccation.
Discussion: The leaf cells are commonly obscured by papillae, and observation is sometimes aided by the use of a mounting medium with a high index of refraction, such as Hoyer's Solution (as described by Anderson, 1954) or lactophenol gel (Zander, 1983c). The structure of the costa provides important taxonomic characters. To make sections, a leaf may be placed in a drop of water, held down with a needle, and cut in a slice-and-chop fashion with a razor blade, while rotating the needle to expose the leaf gradually. The sexual condition can be ascertained, sometimes only with difficulty, under higher magnifications of the dissecting microscope. - Techniques for study of the family are reviewed by Zander (1979b). Because the family is notoriously difficult, reference to illustrations and descriptions may be necessary to make the keys work. It is probable that many species may yet be discovered in the Mexican flora. Reference to Flowers' Mosses: Utah and the West and Bartram's Mosses of Guatemala is especially encouraged.
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Plants small to robust, usually caespitose, dull, usually green above, brown, yellow-brown, or reddish below. Stems generally erect, occasionally tomentose, with axillary hairs hyaline throughout or with 1-2(or 3) yellowish or brownish basal cells; central strand usually present and hyaloderm sometimes differentiated. Propagula often present, on leaves, in leaf axils, or on rhizoids. Leaves usually larger and more crowded at the stem tip, often contorted when dry, spreading when moist, lanceolate or sometimes oval to lingulate, the base often differentiated; margins usually entire, often revolute; costa single, ending at or near the apex, with 1 or 2 stereid bands, guide cells, epidermal cells, and sometimes hydroids (Begleiter); upper cells occasionally bistratose, small, subquadrate, usually papillose, occasionally mammillose-bulging; basal cells usually enlarged, often thin-walled. Dioicous or monoicous. Perichaetia usually terminal. Setae usually elongate; capsules generally stegocarpous, usually erect and symmetric, spherical, ovoid, or cylindric; annulus often differentiated; operculum (if present) conic to rostrate; peristome generally present, consisting of 32 filiform divisions or 16 variously perforate or cleft teeth, often arising from a basal membrane, sometimes twisted. Spores mostly spherical, finely papillose. Calyptrae nearly always cucullate, smooth or rarely roughened, naked.
 

 

 

 
 
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