Gemmabryum radiculosum

(Bridel) J. R. Spence & H. P. Ramsay

Phytologia 87: 68. 2005.

Basionym: Bryum radiculosum Bridel Muscol. Recent., suppl. 3: 18. 1817
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 28. Treatment on page 138. Mentioned on page 137.
Revision as of 19:44, 24 September 2019 by FNA>Volume Importer

Plants small, green or yellow-green, often with reddish tinge. Stems 0.5–1(–2) cm; rhizoids yellow-red, brown, or red-brown. Leaves loosely set, broadly lanceolate to narrowly ovate, weakly concave, 0.4–1.5(–2) mm; base not decurrent; margins plane to revolute proximally, serrulate distally, limbidium absent; apex acute to acuminate; costa short- to long-excurrent, awn slender, yellow to red; alar cells similar to adjacent juxtacostal cells; proximal laminal cells abruptly quadrate to occasionally short-rectangular, 1–2:1; medial and distal cells 40–60 × 10–12(–14) µm, 3–5:1. Specialized asexual reproduction by rhizoidal tubers, on long rhizoids in soil, red to red-brown, spheric, 120–180 µm, cells 20–40 µm, smooth. Sexual condition dioicous. Capsule inclined or nutant, 2–3 mm.


Phenology: Capsules mature Apr–Jul (spring–summer).
Habitat: Dry disturbed calcareous soil, soil over rock
Elevation: low to moderate elevations (0-1500 m)

Distribution

V28 219-distribution-map.gif

Calif., Nev., Oreg., Mexico, West Indies, Europe, e Asia (Japan), n Africa, Atlantic Islands (Canary Islands), Australia.

Discussion

Gemmabryum radiculosum is distinguished by the relatively large, reddish, spheric tubers with smooth cells, similar in color to the rhizoids, long-excurrent costa, and preference for strongly calcareous substrates. Gemmabryum subapiculatum is similar, but with red tubers that are brighter than the rhizoids, a short-excurrent costa, and a preference for acidic substrates.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Gemmabryum radiculosum"
John R. Spence +
(Bridel) J. R. Spence & H. P. Ramsay +
Bryum radiculosum +
Calif. +, Nev. +, Oreg. +, Mexico +, West Indies +, Europe +, e Asia (Japan) +, n Africa +, Atlantic Islands (Canary Islands) +  and Australia. +
low to moderate elevations (0-1500 m) +
Dry disturbed calcareous soil, soil over rock +
Capsules mature Apr–Jul (spring–summer). +
Gemmabryum radiculosum +
Gemmabryum sect. Tuberibryum +
species +