Anacolia laevisphaera
in A. J. Grout, Moss Fl. N. Amer. 2: 155. 1935.
Plants yellowish or reddish. Stems 1–5 cm. Leaves imbricate or distal leaves divaricate when dry, spreading to recurved when moist, narrowly ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, distal lamina 2-stratose toward costa, 3- or 4-stratose at margins, 2–6.5 mm; margins coarsely doubly serrate distally; costa excurrent to long-excurrent, abaxial surface rough; inner basal laminal cells elongated oblong; distal cells short-rectangular to linear, to 45 × 3–7 µm, prorulose at both ends. [Seta 0.2–0.8 cm. Capsule 2–3 mm; operculum short-conic; peristome absent. Spores 23–28 µm].
Habitat: Dry to moist soil, rock crevices, talus slopes
Elevation: moderate to high elevations (1000-1700 m)
Distribution
Ariz., Colo., N.Mex., Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, Asia, Africa.
Discussion
The prominently prorulose laminal cells and well-differentiated cells of the leaf base distinguish Anacolia laevisphaera from A. menziesii. When sterile, Bartramia stricta may be mistaken for A. laevisphaera. The basal laminal cells of this species are subquadrate, to short-rectangular toward the margins, and 20 × 10–12 µm.
Selected References
None.