Phlegmariurus

Holub

Preslia 36: 17, 21. 1964.

Common names: Hanging fir-moss
Etymology: based on epithet of Lycopodium phlegmaria Greek phlegma, flame, and oura, tail in reference to the tasslelike fertile portions of the plant
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 2.

Plants epiphytic or terrestrial, pendent [erect]. Roots produced in distal parts of shoots, migrating downward in cortex to emerge in substrate. Horizontal stems absent [present]. Shoots clustered, round in cross section, dichotomously branching, 1.5–5 mm diam. Leaves not in distinct ranks [ranked], imbricate or not, monomorphic (or sporophylls sometimes differentiated), appressed, ascending to spreading, linear to subulate, margins mostly entire [denticulate]. Gemmiferous branchlets and gemmae absent. Sporangia reniform, borne individually in axils of undifferentiated or slightly differentiated sporophylls [differentiated sporophylls in strobili]. Spores pitted to small-grooved, sides at equator convex and angles acute. Gametophytes nonphotosynthetic, mycorrhizal, mainly growing buried in humus on trees, branched, paraphysate with uniseriate hairs; ring meristem absent. x = 68.

Distribution

in tropical areas worldwide.

Discussion

As construed here, Phlegmariurus is very large and diverse. Many groups have been tentatively suggested in this genus (B. Øllgaard 1987). Some of these ultimately may be recognized as subgenera or even genera.

Species over 300 (1 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

... more about "Phlegmariurus"
Warren H. Wagner Jr. +  and Joseph M. Beitel +
Hanging fir-moss +
in tropical areas worldwide. +
based on epithet of Lycopodium phlegmaria +, Greek phlegma, flame, and oura, tail +  and in reference to the tasslelike fertile portions of the plant +
Phlegmariurus +
Lycopodiaceae +