Bruchia

Leaves not contorted when dry, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate from a somewhat broadened ovate or oblong base, 1–2 mm, apex acute to acuminate, margins entire or serrulate; costa subpercurrect to shortly excurrent; distal laminal cells short- to long-rectangular. Perichaetial leaves little different from cauline to distinctly larger and somewhat sheathing. Seta short, 0.3–0.4 mm. Capsule immersed to short-exserted, pyriform or obovate, neck weakly to strongly inflated, obovate, tapering, or short-cylindric; peristome and operculum not differentiated. Calyptra mitrate. Spores rather large, 25–45 µm, papillose, spinose, reticulate, or pitted.

Distribution

Worldwide, mainly in the temperate zones.

Discussion

Species 17 (10 in the flora).

The taxonomic concept for Bruchia follows that of A. E. Rushing (1986). The large percentage of species that are endemic to the flora area may indicate an overly narrow species concept for the genus held by past monographers. The protonema of some species appears persistent. Bruchia bolanderi and B. vogesiaca approach Trematodon in size and appearance of sporophyte but the capsules are cleistocarpic.

Selected References

Rushing, A. E. 1985. Spore morphology in the genus Bruchia Schwaegr. (Musci). Amer. J. Bot. 72: 75–85.

Rushing, A. E. 1986. A revision of the genus Bruchia Schwaegr. (Musci). J. Hattori Bot. Lab. 60: 35–83.

Lower Taxa

Bruchia bolanderi, Bruchia brevifolia, Bruchia carolinae, Bruchia drummondii, Bruchia flexuosa, Bruchia fusca, Bruchia hallii, Bruchia ravenelii, Bruchia texana, Bruchia vogesiaca

Key

1	Seta (1.5-)3-7 mm, spores warty	> 2
1	Seta usually less than 3 mm, spores spinose, papillose or pitted	> 3
2	Distal leaves 0.7-3 mm, leaf base ovate to oblong.	Bruchia bolanderi
2	Distal leaves 1.8-4.7 mm, leaf base long-oblong to long-elliptical.	Bruchia vogesiaca
3	Leaves ovate to lanceolate	> 4
3	Leaves subulate beyond an ovate, oblong-ovate, obovate, or elliptic base	> 5
4	Spores densely spinose.	Bruchia hallii
4	Spores pitted.	Bruchia fusca
5	Spores pitted	> 6
5	Spores papillose, spinose, or reticulate	> 7
6	Calyptra papillose; leaves long-subulate.	Bruchia carolinae
6	Calyptra smooth; leaves short-subulate.	Bruchia brevifolia
7	Calyptra papillose.	Bruchia ravenelii
7	Calyptra smooth	> 8
8	Spores spinose.	Bruchia flexuosa
8	Spores reticulate	> 9
9	Leaves short-subulate, distal laminal cells short-rectangular; capsule obovate, tapered to base.	Bruchia texana
9	Leaves long-subulate, distal laminal cells long-rectangular; capsule rounded-truncate at base.	Bruchia drummondii