Weissia ludoviciana

Leaves long-lanceolate, base long-elliptic or narrowly ovate, shoulders absent, distal laminal margins plane or erect, apex broadly channeled, acute, mucro very strong, of 7–10(–14) cells; costal adaxial stereid band smaller than the abaxial; distal laminal cells 8–10(–12) µm wide. Sexual condition rhizautoicous. Seta short, 0.08–0.015 cm not including the vaginula. Capsule cleistocarpic, ovoid with a short-rostrate apiculus.

Phenology: Capsules mature fall–spring.
Habitat: Moist soil, fields, among grasses, roadside banks
Elevation: low to moderate elevations

Distribution

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Ala., Ark., Fla., Ky., La., Miss., N.C., S.C., Tex., Va., W.Va.

Discussion

The gametophyte of Weissia ludoviciana is quite like that of W. brachycarpa. If it has a hybrid origin, then the archegoniate parent is the latter species. Weissia ludoviciana, W. muehlenbergiana, and W. phascopsis are similar in the short-seta, cleistocarpic capsules and long-lanceolate leaves, but differ most constantly in the traits given in the key. Additional differences observed, which may prove inconstant on revision, are: W. ludoviciana is rhizautoicous, with antheridia in extremely small, serrate-leaved buds, on soil near base of the archegoniophore, the capsule has stomates and a weakly differentiated annulus of 3–4 rows of smaller cells, and the calyptra is ca. 1 mm; W. muehlenbergiana is cladautoicous, the capsule lacks stomates and an annulus is not distinguishable, and the calyptra is 0.5–0.6 mm; W. phascopsis is cladautoicous, the capsule has stomates and the annulus somewhat differentiated as a ridge, and the calyptra is 1.2–1.4 mm. The hybrid Weissia ludoviciana × W. controversa was reported by W. D. Reese and B. E. Lemmon (1965).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.