Zelometeorium patulum

(Hedwig) Manuel

J. Hattori Bot. Lab. 43: 118. 1978.

Illustrated
Basionym: Hypnum patulum Hedwig Sp. Musc. Frond., 279, plate 73 [lower & at right], figs. 1 – 5. 1801
Synonyms: Meteoriopsis patula (Hedwig) Brotherus
Treatment appears in FNA Volume 28. Treatment on page 468.

Stems to 15 cm, branches to 15 mm, straight to flexuose. Stem leaves 1–1.6 × 0.8–1.2 mm (squarrose leaves in densely foliate stem parts) or 1.5–2 × 0.4–0.7 mm (erect leaves in moderately loosely foliate stem parts); laminal cells 45–70 × 4–6 µm; basal cells to 12 µm wide, walls thick, pitted. [Capsule exserted beyond perichaetial leaves].


Habitat: Shrubs in humid evergreen hammock forests
Elevation: low elevations (0 m)

Distribution

V28 731-distribution-map.gif

Fla., Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, Pacific Islands (Galapagos Islands).

Discussion

The smooth glossy plants of Zelometeorium patula, pendent in loose tangles, with their usually distinctly spreading-squarrose leaves, are easy to recognize. In the flora area, the species is known only from Collier and Miami-Dade counties. There has been only one collection (in 1993) made of this moss from Florida since 1940, and the species is perhaps in danger of extinction in the flora area due to destruction of habitat. In tropical areas, stems can be much longer, to 47 cm (M. G. Manuel 1977).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.
... more about "Zelometeorium patulum"
Michael S. Ignatov +  and William D. Reese† +
(Hedwig) Manuel +
Hypnum patulum +
Fla. +, Mexico +, West Indies +, Central America +, South America +  and Pacific Islands (Galapagos Islands). +
low elevations (0 m) +
Shrubs in humid evergreen hammock forests +
J. Hattori Bot. Lab. +
Illustrated +
Meteoriopsis patula +
Zelometeorium patulum +
Zelometeorium +
species +