Plagiothecium latebricola

Schimper

in P. Bruch and W. P. Schimper, Bryol. Europ. 5: 184, plate 494. 1851.

Synonyms: Isopterygium latebricola (Schimper) Delogne Leskea latebricola (Schimper) Wilson Plagiotheciella latebricola (Schimper) M. Fleischer
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 28. Treatment on page 485. Mentioned on page 484.

Plants in dense mats, light green to yellowish, glossy. Stems to 2 cm, 0.5–1 mm wide across leafy stem, prostrate to erect, ± complanate-foliate. Leaves erect-spreading, basally imbricate, ovate-lanceolate, symmetric, concave, 0.7–1.5 × 0.2–0.5 mm; margins plane or narrowly recurved nearly to apex, entire at apex or sometimes with few serrulations; apex acuminate, not abruptly contracted; costa ending just beyond leaf base, often ecostate; alar cells rectangular, 26–72 × 12–19 µm, in 1–5 vertical rows, terminating in 1 cell at base, region triangular; medial laminal cells 52–150 × 4–10 µm. Specialized asexual reproduction usually present as propagula, 57–108 × 7–14 µm, of 3–6 cells borne in leaf axils, or in clusters without stalks on abaxial leaf surface, or sometimes at leaf apices. Sexual condition dioicous, rarely fruiting. Seta light brown to orange-brown, 0.6–1 cm, straight. Capsule erect or rarely inclined, light brown to orange-brown when mature, straight or rarely somewhat arcuate, 0.5–1.2 × 0.2–0.6 mm, smooth, slightly wrinkled at neck when dry; operculum conic-apiculate to short-rostrate, 0.4–0.6 mm; endostome cilia absent, or 1 or 2, rudimentary. Spores 9–13 µm.


Phenology: Capsules mature summer.
Habitat: Swamps, fens, marshes, inundated woods on rotten logs, stumps, base of trees, humus
Elevation: low elevations (50-100 m)

Distribution

V28 756-distribution-map.gif

N.B., Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.), N.S., Ont., Que., Conn., Mass., Mich., Minn., N.J., N.Y., Ohio, Pa., Wis., Europe.

Discussion

Plagiothecium latebricola is a rare species of northeastern North America, where it always occurs in wet habitats. The species is the smallest in the genus and is distinguished by short stems to 2 cm; erect-spreading, mostly symmetric, somewhat concave leaves 0.7–1.5 mm; medial laminal cells 4–10 µm wide; tapering decurrencies composed of rectangular cells; and erect, straight capsules that are not contracted below the mouth.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Plagiothecium latebricola"
Robert R. Ireland Jr. +
Schimper +
N.B. +, Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.) +, N.S. +, Ont. +, Que. +, Conn. +, Mass. +, Mich. +, Minn. +, N.J. +, N.Y. +, Ohio +, Pa. +, Wis. +  and Europe. +
low elevations (50-100 m) +
Swamps, fens, marshes, inundated woods on rotten logs, stumps, base of trees, humus +
Capsules mature summer. +
in P. Bruch and W. P. Schimper, Bryol. Europ. +
Isopterygium latebricola +, Leskea latebricola +  and Plagiotheciella latebricola +
Plagiothecium latebricola +
Plagiothecium +
species +