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Published In: Catalogus Muscorum fere Omnium quos in Terris Amazonicus et Andinis, per Annos 1849--1860, legit Ricardus Spruceus 3. 1867. (Cat. Musc.) Name publication detail
 

Project Name Data (Last Modified On 2/17/2011)
Acceptance : Accepted
Project data     (Last Modified On 2/17/2011)
Discussion:

Racomitrium crispipilum is a high elevation species often confused with R. crispulum (Hook. f. & Wils.) Hook. f. & Wils. which differs in having bistratose leaf margins, shorter hyaline leaf points, and shorter, elliptical capsules. This species belongs to the microcarpon‑group of Racomitrium which characteristically has 10–20 enlarged, hyaline, esinuose cells along the basal leaf margin. Unfortunately, as noted by Deguchi (1984), R. crispipilum is so variable in this respect that the absence of the feature cannot be used as a distinguishing character.

Most Central American collections are hoary due to the presence of long, hyaline hair‑points and this feature distinguishes them from R. subsecundum which has only moderately developed hair‑points. These hoary-leafed collections usually have well-developed basal marginal leaf cells. Collections of R. crispipilum with poorly developed leaf hair-points and basal marginal cells can be distinguished from R. subsecundum by examining midleaf cross‑sections. In R. subsecundum the ventral costal surface has 4–8 medium-sized cells, in R. crispipilum there are only 2–3 enlarged cells on the ventral surface. The leaf cross‑section illustration of R. crispipilum in the Mexican moss flora (Sharp et al. 1994, Fig. 307 f) appears to represent R. subsecundum.

Illustrations: Bartram (1949, Fig. 65 G–I, as R. crispulum); Deguchi (1984, Fig. 17 A–O); Deguchi (1987, Pl. 28 A–R, Pl. 29 A–U); Frisvoll (1988, Fig. 37 A–F) Sharp et al. (1994, Fig. 307 a–e). Figure 103.
Habitat: On exposed siliceous boulders and rocks, terrestrial and occasionally on tree bark; 3000–4400 m.
Distribution in Central America: GUATEMALA. Quezaltenango: Steyermark 34210 (F); San Marcos: Sharp 5425 (MO). COSTA RICA. Cartago: Bowers 618 (MO); Limón: Davidse et al. 25990 (MO); San José: Crosby & Crosby 5730 (MO). PANAMA. Bocas del Toro: Gómez et al. 22493 (MO); Chiriquí: Allen 9098 (MO).
World Range: Mexico; Central America; Western, Northern, and Southern South America.

 

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Racomitrium crispipilum (Tayl.) Jaeg., Ber. Thätigk. St. Gallischen Naturwiss. Ges. 1872–73: 96. 1874.

Trichostomum crispipilum Tayl., London J. Bot. 5: 47. 1846. Grimmia crispipila (Tayl.) C. Müll., Syn. Musc. Frond. 1: 808. 1849. Protologue: Ecuador. Summit of the Quitinian Andes, Prof. William Jameson, 1845 (NY).

Grimmia contermina C. Müll., Syn. Musc. Frond. 2: 655. 1851. Racomitrium conterminum (C. Müll.) Jaeg., Ber. Thätigk. St. Gallischen Naturwiss. Ges. 1872–73: 98. 1874. Protologue: Costa Rica. America centralis, Costa-Rica, alt. inter 5000–8000', Febr. lg. A. S. Oersted (NY). 

Plants robust in loose tufts, brown below, olive‑green to yellow-green above, often hoary. Stems erect, fasciculate branched, to 10 cm high; rhizoids sparse. Leaves appressed to homomallous or falcate when dry, erect‑spreading to reflexed when wet, 3–4 mm long, ovate‑lanceolate; apices acuminate, hair‑point usually long, but also short or absent on some leaves, weakly decurrent; margins unistratose, revolute, erect or plane; costa thin, percurrent, dorsally flat to rounded in lower half, with 2–3 enlarged, ventral surface cells; laminae unistratose, cells smooth; upper cells 12–25 μm, short‑rectangular, thick‑walled, basal cells 38–60 μm long, elongate, alar cells moderately differentiated, basal margins often with 10–20 enlarged, hyaline, thin‑walled, esinuose cells. Dioicous. Setae single or multiple, red, 6–10 mm long. Capsules 2–3 mm long, cylindric, erect; stomata in neck; opercula long rostrate; peristome teeth linear, coarsely papillose, basal membrane absent. Spores 12–14 μm, finely papillose. Calyptra not seen.

 

 

 
 
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