Syntrichia montana

Nees

Flora 2: 301. 1819,.

Synonyms: Syntrichia intermedia Bridel Tortula intermedia (Bridel) De Notaris Tortula ruralis var. crinita De Notaris
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 27. Treatment on page 624. Mentioned on page 619.

Stems 2–10 mm. Leaves infolded and twisted when dry, erect-spreading when moist, lingulate or spatulate, 1.5–3 × 0.5–1.5 mm; margins revolute in the proximal 1/2, entire; apices broadly acute or obtuse, sometimes emarginate; costa excurrent into a short, serrate, hyaline awn, brown or red, often papillose abaxially and serrulate near the apex because of projecting cell ends; basal cells abruptly differentiated, narrower toward the margins; distal cells polygonal or quadrate, 8–12 µm, with 4–6 papillae per cell. Specialized asexual reproduction absent. Sexual condition dioicous. Seta red, 8–14 mm. Capsule red, 2–3.5 mm, straight or slightly curved; operculum 1.2–2 mm, red; peristome 0.5–1.3 mm, the basal membrane to 1/2 the total length, red. Spores 10–13 µm, papillose.


Habitat: Widespread on soil and rock, occasionally on tree bark
Elevation: moderate to high elevations

Distribution

V27 912-distribution-map.gif

Alta., B.C., Ariz., Calif., Idaho, Maine, Mont., Nev., N.Mex., N.Y., Oreg., Wash., Europe, Asia.

Discussion

This treatment follows M. T. Gallego et al. (2006) in employing Syntrichia montana to encompass what has been called S. intermedia or S. ruralis var. crinita in North America. This is, however, a tentative decision as there remains an incompletely understood complex of small, dioicous plants with hydroids in the costa, and some currently undescribed taxa may yet need to be recognized. One recently described species that falls in this complex is S. rupicola B. H. Allen. Further field sampling, molecular characterization, and culture studies are necessary before these taxa are fully understood.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Syntrichia montana"
Brent D. Mishler +
Alta. +, B.C. +, Ariz. +, Calif. +, Idaho +, Maine +, Mont. +, Nev. +, N.Mex. +, N.Y. +, Oreg. +, Wash. +, Europe +  and Asia. +
moderate to high elevations +
Widespread on soil and rock, occasionally on tree bark +
Syntrichia intermedia +, Tortula intermedia +  and Tortula ruralis var. crinita +
Syntrichia montana +
Syntrichia +
species +