Pohlia annotina

Illustrator: Patricia M. Eckel

Copyright: Flora of North America Association

Plants small, green, dull. Stems 0.3–3 cm. Leaves ± erect, lanceolate, 0.6–1.1 mm; margins serrulate to serrate in distal 1/3; costa subpercurrent; distal medial laminal cells rhombic to rhomboidal, 60–95 µm, walls thin. Specialized asexual reproduction usually present when sterile; axillary gemmae in dense clusters, rarely few or single on older stems, oblong, obconic, or rarely oblong-bulbiform, hyaline to pale green, rarely reddish, leaf primordia 2–5, conspicuous, restricted to apex, peglike or rarely ± laminate with age. Sexual condition dioicous; perigonial leaves ovate; perichaetial leaves weakly differentiated, narrowly lanceolate. Seta orange-brown. Capsule inclined 95–180°, brown to stramineous, pyriform, neck 1/3 urn length; exothecial cells short-rectangular, walls sinuate; stomata superficial; annulus present; operculum convex-conic; exostome teeth yellow-brown, narrowly triangular-acute; endostome hyaline, basal membrane 1/2 exostome length, segments distinctly keeled, broadly perforate, cilia short to rudimentary. Spores 16–21 µm, finely roughened.

Phenology: Capsules mature summer (Jun–Aug).
Habitat: Acid, gravelly or sandy disturbed soil, path banks, stream banks
Elevation: low to high elevations

Distribution

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B.C., N.B., Nfld. and Labr., N.S., Ont., Que., Alaska, Ark., Calif., Del., Ga., Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Miss., Mo., Mont., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Pa., S.C., Tenn., Vt., Va., Wash., Wis., Europe.

Discussion

Pohlia annotina is the most widespread and common gemmiferous species in eastern North America and along the Pacific coast. The plants are slender and rather dull with green to orange-green stems, and the leaves are somewhat contorted when dry. The axillary gemmae are borne in clusters and are obconic to linear-obconic, with two to five apical, peglike leaf primordia.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.