Tropicos | Name - !Bryum falcatum (Besch.) Müll. Hal.

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!Bryum falcatum (Besch.) Müll. Hal.

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Project Name Data (Last Modified On 2/22/2011)

Acceptance : Accepted

Project data (Last Modified On 2/22/2011)

Discussion:

The extraordinarily long capsules of B. falcatum are similar to those of some Pohlia species, but its strongly bordered leaves and short leaf cells place it in Bryum. The species has been reported as dioicous (Mohamed 1979) because its monoicous condition – with perigonia at the ends of lateral branches – is difficult to demonstrate. This species can be confused with B. billarderi but it differs from that species in its weakly rosulate habit, smaller gametophytes, longer capsules and monoicous sexual condition. Ochi (1990, as B. pohliaeforme; 1994, as B. lagarocarpum), synonymized B. falcatum with B. capillare. Bryum capillare, however, is an evenly foliate species with weakly limbate leaves that are less strongly revolute, a dioicous sexual condition, and short-necked capsules.

Illustrations: Mohamed (1979, Figs. 30 & 31). Figure 144.

Habitat: On shaded banks, bark of Juniperus, and limestone or non‑calcareous rocks and boulders; 3000‑4400 m.

Distribution in Central America: GUATEMALA. Huehuetenango: Williams et al. 41096 (F, MO); San Marcos: Steyermark 36103 (F, NY); Totonicapán: Standley 65888 (F).

World Range: Mexico; Central America.

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Bryum falcatum (Besch.) C. Müll., Gen. Musc. Frond. 230. 1900.

Pohlia falcata (Besch.) Broth., Nat. Pflanzenfam. 1(3): 548. 1903. Webera falcata Besch., Mém. Soc. Sci. Nat. Cherbourg 16: 197. 1872. Protologue: Mexico. Orizaba, alt. 10,000 ped. (Galeotti no 6970 in herb. Mus. Par.).

Bryum lagarocarpum Mohamed, J. Bryol. 10: 456. 1979. Protologue: Guatemala. Dept. Totonicapan, on road between Huehuetenango and Sija, shaded bank, 3,000–3450 m, Feb 1939, P. C. Standley (F).

Bryum campylotheca Schimp. ex Besch., Mém. Soc. Sci. Nat. Cherbourg 16: 197. 1872, nom. nud. in synonymy of Webera falcata.

Plants small to medium-sized, shiny, light-green to yellowish green, in weakly rosulate tufts, 5–10 mm high; rhizoids papillose, forming brownish red tomentum at base. Upper leaves 2.5–3 mm long, erect, loosely twisted when dry, erect‑spreading when wet, ovate to obovate; apices mucronate to cuspidate; margins recurved in lower ¾–5/6, distinctly bordered by 2–3 rows of narrow, thick‑walled, linear cells, crenulate to serrate; costae shortly excurrent; upper cells rhomboidal‑hexagonal, thin‑walled, 30–50 μm long, basal cells broadly rectangular, lax, thin‑walled, 40–90 μm long. Monoicous. Perigonia at ends of lateral branches. Setae single 20–35 mm long, reddish brown. Capsules 6–10 mm long, light‑brown, narrowly cylindrical, suberect, horizontal or pendulous, neck to 3 mm long; opercula 0.5–1 mm long, conic apiculate; annuli compound and revoluble; exostome teeth brown to reddish yellow at base, yellow above, densely and evenly papillose, endostome pale yellow, lightly papillose, basal membrane to _ of exostome teeth length, segments well-developed, broadly perforate, cilia 2–5, appendiculate. Spores 14–16 μm, lightly roughened. Calyptra not seen.