Ulota drummondii

Plants 0.5–1.2 cm. Stems erect. Stem leaves flexuose to ± contorted-flexuose, loosely erect when dry, lanceolate, 1.7–3.7 mm; base ovate; margins plane or slightly reflexed; apex obtuse; basal laminal cells rounded to elliptic; distal cells 7–11 µm, smooth or slightly papillose, papillae low, simple. Specialized asexual reproduction absent. Sexual condition autoicous; perichaetial leaves not differentiated from stem leaves. Seta 5–5.5 mm. Capsule cylindric and contracted at mouth when mature, fusiform to fusiform-cylindric when old and dry, 1.7–3.2 mm, strongly 8-ribbed 1/2–2/3 length, mouth small, distinctly smaller than mid capsule; stomata in neck and basal capsule; peristome single; exostome teeth split to 16, erect, flexuose-incurved, obscurely and densely papillose; endostome segments absent. Calyptra conic, very hairy. Spores 21–24 µm.

Habitat: Twigs and trunks of conifer and deciduous trees, dense coastal forests
Elevation: low elevations

B.C., Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.), Que., Alaska, Europe, Asia.

Discussion

The distribution of Ulota drummondii is bicentric; it is known from both coasts in North America, from Newfoundland south to Cape Breton and the Gaspé in the East, and from along the Aleutians south to the Queen Charlotte Islands in the West. This species is distinguished by its narrowly fusiform capsules that are ribbed almost their entire length and are somewhat smaller at the mouth. The whitish single peristome is erect and flexuose and easily distinguishes U. drummondii from U. crispa which has a reflexed exostome. Additionally, the leaves of U. drummondii are blunt and not strongly twisted-contorted.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa