Timmia megapolitana

Plants without deciduous distal leaves. Leaf apex acute; costa subpercurrent; sheath clear or yellowish; limb green, pellucid; limb-sheath transition abrupt, not sharply angled; limb margins strongly dentate in distal half, with fewer and smaller teeth below, and a few small sharp teeth at limb-sheath transition; limb lamina cells (5–)7–16(–21) × (6–)7–12(–14) µm, with low rounded or flattened mamillae on the adaxial surface, abaxial surface smooth; abaxial surfaces of sheath lamina cells smooth or with 1–6 papillae over lumen; cells at leaf insertion not fragile and hyaline; abaxial surface of limb costa smooth (rarely papillose near leaf apex), adaxial cells with rounded or somewhat flattened mamillae. Sexual condition monoicous; perichaetial leaves narrower than vegetative leaves. Calyptra with a median longitudinal split, sometimes persistent on the neck of the capsule or seta. Capsule plicate or puckered when dry; exothecial cells with non-sinuose walls; stomata on urn; endostome cilia with numerous spine-like or branched-stellate appendiculations on the interior surfaces.

Distribution

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North America, Eurasia, n Africa, Atlantic Islands (Iceland), Pacific Islands (Hawaii).

Discussion

Subspecies 2 (2 in the flora).

Timmia megapolitana is a distinct species within the genus, separated by its monoicous sexuality, distinct but pale leaf sheaths, and elaborately appendiculate endostome cilia.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Timmia megapolitana subsp. bavarica, Timmia megapolitana subsp. megapolitana

Key

1	Cells of mid-limb lamina (8-)9-12(-14) µm wide; cells of distal part of leaf sheath papillose; calyptra often remaining attached to seta at base of capsule	Timmia megapolitana subsp. megapolitana
1	Cells of the mid-limb lamina (6-)7-10(-12) µm wide; cells of distal part of leaf sheath smooth; calyptra not persistent on seta.	Timmia megapolitana subsp. bavarica