Hypnum cupressiforme var. filiforme

Bridel

Muscol. Recent 2(2): 138. 1801.

Treatment appears in FNA Volume 28. Treatment on page 538. Mentioned on page 535, 537.

Plants small, pale green to dull green, sometimes yellowish. Stems 2–6 cm, creeping, subjulaceous, irregularly branched to somewhat pinnate. Leaves straight to somewhat falcate, oblong-lanceolate, gradually narrowed to apex; margins nearly entire; alar cells many, subquadrate; laminal cells 60–80 × 3–4 µm (or slightly larger). Branch leaves 1–1.4 × 0.2–0.4 mm or slightly smaller.


Phenology: Capsule maturity unknown.
Habitat: Vertical surfaces of cliffs and tree trunks
Elevation: low to high elevations (0-2500 m)

Distribution

V28 833-distribution-map.gif

N.B., N.S., P.E.I., Ark., Conn., Maine, Mass., Mich., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Okla., Pa., Tenn., Tex., Va., s South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Pacific Islands (New Zealand), Australia.

Discussion

When well-developed, var. filiforme is distinctive, with filiform julaceous stems and straight leaves. There are variants with somewhat falcate-secund leaves that can be confused with H. andoi. The latter species has long-attenuate leaf apices, is not julaceous, although filiform, and the leaves are not strongly imbricate as in var. filiforme. The many specimens that closely resemble var. filiforme strongly suggest that it may be an environmental form induced by the habitat that holds moisture rather briefly during the growing season.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
Wilfred B. Schofield† +
Bridel +
N.B. +, N.S. +, P.E.I. +, Ark. +, Conn. +, Maine +, Mass. +, Mich. +, N.H. +, N.J. +, N.Y. +, N.C. +, Okla. +, Pa. +, Tenn. +, Tex. +, Va. +, s South America +, Europe +, Asia +, Africa +, Pacific Islands (New Zealand) +  and Australia. +
low to high elevations (0-2500 m) +
Vertical surfaces of cliffs and tree trunks +
Capsule maturity unknown. +
Muscol. Recent +
Illustrated +
Stereodon cupressiformis +
Hypnum cupressiforme var. filiforme +
Hypnum cupressiforme +
variety +