Tortula amplexa

(Lesquereux) Steere

in A. J. Grout, Moss Fl. N. Amer. 1: 233. 1939,.

Basionym: Barbula amplexa Lesquereux Trans. Amer. Philos. Soc., n. s. 13: 5. 1865
Synonyms: Syntrichia amplexa (Lesquereux) R. H. Zander
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 27. Treatment on page 602. Mentioned on page 587, 588, 590, 603.

Leaves ovate to elliptic, occasionally lingulate, apex rounded and muticuous, margins weakly recurved in proximal 1/2 of leaf, weakly bordered in distal 2/3 of leaf with 2–6 rows of thicker-walled, smaller cells (sometimes weak or patchy); costa percurrent or ending 2–6 cells before the apex, lacking an adaxial pad of cells, distally narrow, 2(–3) cells across adaxial surface; distal laminal cells hexagonal, width 13–18(–25) µm, 1:1, weakly papillose. Sexual condition dioicous. Sporophytes exerted. Seta 0.5–1(–1.5) cm. Capsule stegocarpic, not systylius, cylindric, erect and nearly straight, urn 1.5–2 mm; peristome of 32 twisted filaments, basal membrane low; operculum 1–1.5 mm. Spores 9–13 µm, spheric, essentially smooth.


Phenology: Capsules mature late summer.
Habitat: Soil, stones, near springs, dry washes, lowlands
Elevation: low elevations

Distribution

V27 867-distribution-map.gif

B.C., Man., Ariz., Calif., Wash., Europe (United Kingdom).

Discussion

Tortula amplexa is similar to T. inermis but the latter is autoicous and lacks the leaf border. The lax areolation, sheathing perichaetial leaves, and weak development of the laminal papillae distinguish it from the similar T. bolanderi. This species is thought to spread by rhizoidal propagula through inadvertent human agency (A. G. Side and H. L. K. Whitehouse 1974).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Tortula amplexa"
Richard H. Zander +  and Patricia M. Eckel +
(Lesquereux) Steere +
Barbula amplexa +
B.C. +, Man. +, Ariz. +, Calif. +, Wash. +  and Europe (United Kingdom). +
low elevations +
Soil, stones, near springs, dry washes, lowlands +
Capsules mature late summer. +
in A. J. Grout, Moss Fl. N. Amer. +
Syntrichia amplexa +
Tortula amplexa +
species +