Barbella pendula

Illustrator: Patricia M. Eckel

Copyright: Flora of North America Association

Stems inconspicuous, branches slender, to 15+ cm. Stem leaves 1.5–2 mm; apex filiform; costa faint or strong. Branch leaves triangular-acuminate proximally, 2 mm, slender-acuminate distally, 1–1.5 mm; costa ending mid leaf; alar cells quadrate; medial laminal cells 60 µm, papillae usually (2–)3–5-seriate, on abaxial and adaxial surfaces. Perigonia unknown. Perichaetia usually on proximal portions of branches. Seta brown, 2–2.5 mm. Capsule dark brown at maturity, 1–1.5 mm; operculum 0.7–0.8 mm. Calyptra conic-mitrate, erose proximally. Spores 15–26 µm.

Phenology: Capsules mature Mar.
Habitat: Deep, cool, shady, humid ravines in deciduous forests, on Arundinaria, shrubs, tree branches, exposed roots along ravines
Elevation: low elevations (10-20 m)

Distribution

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La., Miss., Mexico, Asia.

Discussion

Barbella pendula is not common in the flora area but may be abundant locally. The delicate, yellowish green plants dangle in conspicuous, tangled festoons in their ravine-bottom habitat. The striking habit of B. pendula and the somewhat dimorphic branch leaves, including the distal with 1-seriate, filiform apices, make the species unmistakable. Barbella pendula has been reported from Florida, but the collections are either Papillaria nigrescens or of uncertain provenance. Perigonia have never been found in specimens (some abundantly fruiting) of B. pendula from the flora area.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.