Blindia acuta
Bryol. Europ. 2: 19. 1846,.
Plants often blackish or dark brown, sometimes olive green. Leaves secund to often deciduous, lanceolate-subulate, obtuse, costae filling subula; margins denticulate at apex, entire below, leaf cells (1–)3:1, quadrate to rectangular-elliptic; perichaetial leaves abruptly subulate. Seta 3–13 mm, flexuose. Capsule ovate to narrowly pyriform, peristome of 16, lanceolate teeth; columella not developed. Spores 13–20 µm.
Habitat: Moist or dripping acidic rock faces, most common in montane/alpine habitats
Elevation: low to high elevations (0-3000 m)
Distribution
Greenland, Alta., B.C., N.B., Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.), N.W.T., N.S., Nunavut, Ont., Que., Yukon, Alaska, Calif., Colo., Mich., Minn., Mont., N.H., N.Y., N.C., Oreg., Pa., Tenn., Vt., Wash., Wyo., Central America (Guatemala), Europe, Asia, Africa, Atlantic Islands (Iceland).
Discussion
Blindia acuta forms soft blackish mats on acidic rocks in moist arctic, alpine, and montane habitats. The well-developed alar cells, smooth leaf cells, subulate leaves, and short-ovate, smooth capsules with well-developed, smooth peristome teeth are distinguishing features. Seligeria species are smaller and occur on calcareous rocks.
Selected References
None.