Tropicos | Name - Leptodontium ulocalyx var. flagellaceum (E.B. Bartram) B.H. Allen

Cent. Amer. Moss > Pottiaceae > Leptodontium > Leptodontium ulocalyx > Leptodontium ulocalyx var. flagellaceum

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Leptodontium ulocalyx var. flagellaceum (E.B. Bartram) B.H. Allen

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Project data (Last Modified On 2/16/2011)

Discussion:

Leptodontium ulocalyx var. flagellaceum has smooth inner basal leaf cells near the insertion and is distinctly marked by the presence of short, stout, terete branchlets in its upper leaf axils. These branchlets are morphologically similar to those seen in Holomitrium williamsii Bartr., Dicranum flagellare Hedw., and Bryum richardsii Sharp. The branchlet leaves in var. flagellaceum are deciduous and have short, erect, non-contorted, oblong leaves with short costae (1/2 to 3/4 the leaf length). Leptodontium ulocalyx var. ulocalyx sometimes has flagellate branchlets, however the branchlets are long, slender, and occur all along the stem. In addition, the branchlet leaves of L. ulocalyx var. ulocalyx are persistent, usually spreading when wet, contorted when dry, lanceolate, and have subpercurrent costae ending near the leaf apex.

Leptodontium ulocalyx var. flagellaceum is similar to L. ulocalyx var. ulocalyx in its dioicous condition, single-sized spores, and decurrent leaves that have short, blunt, papillose marginal teeth. The presence of smooth inner basal cells near the leaf insertion is a feature var. flagellaceum shares with L. viticulosoides.

Illustrations: Bartram (1928, Fig. 15); Zander (1972, Fig. 81); Sharp et al. (1994, Fig. 196 f). Figure 51.

Habitat: On trees and shrubs; 1910–3000 m.

Distribution in Central America: GUATEMALA. Jalapa: Steyermark 32461 (F); Quezaltenango: Steyermark 34122 (F, MICH). HONDURAS. Cortés: Allen 14283 (MO, TEFH); Olancho: Allen 12664 (MO, TEFH). COSTA RICA. Heredia: Standley & Valerio 50508 (NY, US).

World Range: Mexico; Central America.

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Leptodontium ulocalyx var. flagellaceum (Bartr.) Allen, comb. nov.

Leptodontium sulphureum var. flagellaceum Bartr., Contr. U.S. Natl. Herb. 26: 75. 1928. Leptodontium viticulosoides var. flagellaceum (Bartr.) Zand., Bryologist 75: 255. 1972. Protologue: Costa Rica. Cerros de Zurqui northeast of San Isidro, Province of Heredia, Costa Rica, altitude 2,000 to 2,400 meters, Paul C. Standley and Juvenal Valerio March 3, 1926, no. 50508 (NY).

Plants medium-sized in loose tufts, yellow-green or light green, to 8 cm high. Stems red, erect or laxly ascending, sclerodermis present, moderately to densely radiculose. Leaves moderately spaced, erect at base, crispate to contorted when dry, squarrose to squarrose-recurved when wet, ovate-lanceolate to long-lanceolate, 3–5 mm long, keeled above, sheathing at base, decurrent; apices acute; margins recurved in lower 1/2–2/3, dentate in upper 1/3, teeth smooth or pluripapillose; costa subpercurrent; upper leaf cells quadrate to hexagonal, thick-walled, at times collenchymatous, pluripapillose, papillae low, scattered over the lumina, 6.5–11.5 μm, inner basal cells long-rectangular to elongate, pluripapillose above, those near the insertion smooth, thick-walled, porose, 18–75 x 5–6 μm, outer basal leaf cells similar to upper leaf cells, alar cells short-rectangular to quadrate. Asexual reproduction by short, stout, terete branchlets in the upper leaf axils, branchlet leaves erect when wet, non-contorted when dry, oblong, to 0.75 mm long, deciduous, costa 1/2 to 3/4 the leaf length. Dioicous. Setae straight, 1 per perichaetium, 15 mm long, yellow. Capsules erect, cylindrical, 4 mm long, smooth; exothecial cells short-rectangular, firm-walled; stomata at base of urn; opercula conic-rostrate, 1 mm long; peristome teeth linear, irregularly divided nearly to the base, red-brown, striate, lightly papillose, to 200 μm long. Spores 20–27.5 μm, slightly papillose. Calyptra not seen.