Tortula inermis

Leaves lingulate, apex rounded-acute, apiculate to short-mucronate, margins recurved from base to near the apex, not bordered; costa subpercurrent, percurrent or very short-excurrent, lacking an adaxial pad of cells but distally narrowing or weakly thickened, 3–4(–5) cells across the convex adaxial surface; distal laminal cells hexagonal, (12–)15–18 µm wide, 1:1, strongly papillose with 4–5 2-fid papillae. Sexual condition gonioautoicous. Sporophytes exerted. Seta 1.2–1.5(–2.5) cm. Capsule stegocarpic, not systylius, cylindric, erect and nearly straight, urn usually 3–4 mm; peristome length 1000–1500 µm, teeth of 32 filaments twisted at least one full turn, basal membrane 300–600 µm; operculum 1.3–1.6(–2) mm. Spores 11–15 µm, spheric, finely papillose.

Phenology: Capsules mature spring.
Habitat: Soil, rock
Elevation: low to high elevations (0-2000 m)

Ariz., Calif., Colo., Nev., N.Mex., S.Dak., Tex., Utah, Wyo., Mexico (Baja California, Chihuahua, Sonora), Europe, s Asia, n Africa.

Discussion

Tortula inermis has the aspect of a Syntrichia with its ligulate, apiculate leaves and strong costa, but the plant is yellow or orange in KOH solution, and the costal section reveals a rounded stereid band. It is related to T. subulata and T. mucronifolia but the lack of a strong mucro and the narrow but nearly complete recurving of the leaf margins are diagnostic.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa