Tortula systylia

(Schimper) Lindberg

Musc. Scand., 20. 1879,.

Basionym: Desmatodon systylius Schimper Flora 28: 145. 1845
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 27. Treatment on page 599. Mentioned on page 588, 590, 600.

Leaves obovate to occasionally ovate, apex acute or broadly acute, awned, margins recurved or plane proximally, not bordered; costa excurrent into the awn, lacking an adaxial pad of cells, distally narrow, 2–3 cells across the convex adaxial surface; distal laminal cells hexagonal to rhomboidal, width 15–22 µm wide, 1:1 near apex but elongate at mid leaf and basally, smooth. Sexual condition autoicous. Sporophytes exerted. Seta 0.8–1.1 cm. Capsule systylius, short-cylindric, erect and nearly straight, urn 1.5–2 mm; peristome 200–250 µm, teeth 16, straight, divided to near base but variously fused or perforate, basal membrane low; operculum 0.5–0.7 mm. Spores 22–30(–35) µm, spheric, warty papillose.


Phenology: Capsules mature summer.
Habitat: Soil in rock crevices, tundra
Elevation: high elevations (0–3700 m)

Distribution

V27 860-distribution-map.gif

Greenland, Alta., B.C., Man., Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.), N.W.T., Nunavut, Que., Yukon, Alaska, Calif., Colo., Wyo., Europe, Asia.

Discussion

Tortula systylia may be confused with Stegonia but the latter has a distinct triangle of echlorophyllose cells at the apex of the much broader leaves. It is similar also to T. hoppeana, but the laminal cells are smooth. After dehiscence, the systylius capsules retain a raised operculum on the columellar stalk.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Tortula systylia"
Richard H. Zander +  and Patricia M. Eckel +
(Schimper) Lindberg +
Desmatodon systylius +
Greenland +, Alta. +, B.C. +, Man. +, Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.) +, N.W.T. +, Nunavut +, Que. +, Yukon +, Alaska +, Calif. +, Colo. +, Wyo. +, Europe +  and Asia. +
high elevations (0–3700 m) +
Soil in rock crevices, tundra +
Capsules mature summer. +
Musc. Scand., +
Desmatodon +, Phascum +, Pottia +  and Protobryum +
Tortula systylia +
species +