Mielichhoferia shevockii
Bryologist 112: 605. 2009.
Plants medium-sized, green, dull. Leaves erect to ± spreading, 0.8–1.3 mm; distal medial laminal cells hexagonal to rhomboidal, 60–110 µm, walls moderately thick. Specialized asexual reproduction absent. Sexual condition synoicous. Capsule erect or inclined to 30°; peristome single; exostome absent; endostome basal membrane scarcely exceeding capsule rim, segments short, irregular, slightly keeled, not perforate. Spores 15–20 µm, finely roughened.
Phenology: Capsules mature spring (Apr–Jun).
Habitat: Soil, rock
Elevation: moderate elevations
Discussion
The gametophytes of Mielichhoferia shevockii, known only from Fresno County, look much like those of genetically recombinant intermediates between M. elongata and M. mielichhoferiana derived from hybrid sporophytes but can be readily distinguished by DNA markers. The gametophytes of M. shevockii, like those intermediate between M. elongata and M. mielichhoferiana, have dull leaves that are a little more pale than is typical of pure M. mielichhoferiana, and are relatively small like those of M. elongata. Unlike those two species, M. shevockii is synoicous and has a single endostomial peristome with nearly smooth segments. In the original description of M. shevockii (as Schizymenium), the sexuality was incorrectly described as dioicous.
Selected References
None.