Pseudocryphaea domingensis

Illustrator: Patricia M. Eckel

Copyright: Flora of North America Association

Plants to 6 cm, often shorter. Stems with external cells in one layer, enlarged, reddish, walls firm, subtended by ca. 5 layers of small thick-walled reddish cells, internal cells larger, walls thinner, hyaline; pseudoparaphyllia narrowly to broadly foliose, when broad often incised; axillary hairs apparently 2 per axil (1 per axil in flagellate branch leaves), distal cell often with granular contents. Leaves 1–1.7(–2) mm; alar cells extending up margins 30–40 cells; laminal cells 6–8:1. Specialized asexual reproduction by flagellate branches to 4–5 mm, 70 µm diam. including leaves; leaves 0.2 mm, alar cells few, laminal cells 3–4:1.

Habitat: Tree trunks, rock, fairly dry to mesic forests
Elevation: low to moderate elevations (0-1200 m)

Distribution

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Fla., West Indies, Central America, n, c South America.

Discussion

Pseudocryphaea domingensis is distinctive among North American mosses by its combination of julaceous stems, flagellate branches, and 1-costate leaves with elongate, prorulose cells; it is unlikely to be confused with any other moss. Depauperate, eflagellate plants have been misnamed Henicodium geniculatum, but in that species the costa ends well before the apex and the cells are 1-papillose over the lumina.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.