BFNA Title:  Bryum
Author: J. Spence
Date: March 8, 2011
Edit Level: R
Version: 1

Bryophyte Flora of North America, Provisional Publication
Missouri Botanical Garden

BFNA Web site: http://www.mobot.org/plantscience/BFNA/bfnamenu.htm

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XX. BRYUM Hedwig, Sp. Musc. Frond., 178. 1801 * [Greek bryum, a moss]

John R. Spence

 

Plants small, gregarious or in dense mats or rarely cushions, white, silver-green, olive to pale green, golden, yellow-green, brown or yellow-brown. Stems 0.2--1(--1.5) cm, weakly to strongly rounded julaceous or short-gemmiform, not or weakly branched, innovations smaller than fertile stems, strongly julaceous; stolons absent; rhizoids scarce or common, micronemata and macronemata absent from stems or present in clusters proximally. Leaves dimorphic, fertile stem leaves imbricate dry, erect to erect-spreading when wet, ovate-lanceolate to ovate, flat or concave, 0.2--1(--1.5) mm, base straight or slightly curved at insertion, not decurrent, innovation leaves similar but smaller than fertile stem leaves; margins plane distally, recurved proximally or often plane throughout, 1-stratose, more or less smooth, limbidium absent, apex obtuse to acute or rarely acuminate, sometimes hyaline, costa not reaching apex or excurrent in smooth often hyaline point, apiculus sometimes present if costa not reaching apex, costa in transverse section with stereid band single, usually well developed, guide cells typically absent; adaxial supracostal cells irregularly to regularly quadrate or short-rectangular at base, laminal cells distinctly heterogeneous, distal cells short-rhomboidal to elongate-hexagonal or rarely vermicular, (2--)3--6(--8):1, not in rows oblique to the costa, thin-walled to incrassate, proximal cells usually quadrate or short-rectangular, 1--2(--3):1, wider than more distal cells, medial cells generally similar to distal cells, walls not pitted, alar cells not or somewhat differentiated from juxtacostal cells, usually shorter. Specialized asexual reproduction by small leafy bulbils in axils of leaves, rarely of rhizoidal tubers. Sexual condition dioicous, perigonia and perichaetia terminal, leaves the same size as vegetative leaves or typically larger, not forming a rosette, inner leaves not much differentiated. Seta 1, straight to somewhat twisted. Capsule inclined to erect, small, (1--)2--3 mm, elongate-pyriform or ovate, hypophysis differentiated or not, sometimes thickened and rugose, exothecial cells near mouth quadrate or short-rectangular, thick walled, reddish, in 1--2 rows, more proximal cells longer, irregularly  long-rectangular with straight or sinuose walls; annulus usually present, revoluble; operculum weakly convex, short-conic, not rostrate; peristome double, exostome pale yellow or tan, teeth slender lanceolate, trabeculate, lacking pores along fissural line, endostome hyaline to pale yellow, separate from exostome, or sometimes adherent or absent, segments present, basal membrane low to high, cilia present, appendiculate, or sometimes absent; calpytra fugacious, cucullate, small, smooth. Spores shed singly, not as tetrads, not germinating in capsule, 8--15(--18) \um, finely papillose, pale tan or yellow-tan.

 

Species 40 (7 in the flora): temperate to Arctic-alpine regions worldwide, and in mountains of subtropical or tropical regions.

 

Bryum in the strict sense is a genus of tiny julaceous plants, morphologically similar to Anomobryum. Molecular studies, however, consistently show that the types of the two genera, A. julaceum and B. argenteum, are not closely related. Species of Anomobryum can generally be distinguished from Bryum by their vermicular distal laminal cells, and elongate very slender, string-like stems. Bryum species tend to have shorter laminal cells and thicker more rounded stems that are relatively short.  Additional studies are needed with a larger sample of species to confirm the molecular results. Bryum consists of both silver-white species lacking chlorophyll in the distal portions of the leaves, and green to yellow-green species.  Many collections are difficult to identify as they often consist of very small sterile shoots. There are at least three undescribed species in the flora area, two of which are discussed under related species. The third is highly distinctive and is from southeastern Arizona.

 

SELECTED REFERENCES  Ochi, H. 1980. A revision of the Neotropical Bryoideae, Part 1. J. Faculty Educ. Tottori Univ., Nat. Sci. 29: 49--154.  Shaw, A. J. 1981. The taxonomy of Bryum oblongum and B. blindii. Canad. J. Bot. 59: 1426--1435.  Frahm, J.-P. 2002. The taxonomic status of Bryum arachnoideum C. Müll. and B. lanatum (P. Beauv.) Brid. Trop. Bryol. 21: 53--56. Pedersen, N., C. J. Cox and L. Hedenäs. 2003. Phylogeny of the moss family Bryaceae inferred from chloroplast DNA sequences and morphology. Syst. Bot. 28: 471--482. Spence, J. R. 1986. Bryum calobryoides, a new species from western North America. Bryologist 89: 215--218. Spence, J. R. 2007. Four species of the Bryaceae new to the U.S.A. Evansia 24: 29--30. Spence, J. R. and H. P. Ramsay. 2002. The genus Anomobryum Schimp. (Bryopsida, Bryaceae) in Australia. Telopea 9: 777--792. Toren, D. and K. Heise. 2009. Bryum chryseum Mitt. (Musci: Bryaceae) new to North America north of Mexico. Evansia 98--101.

 

1. Plants silver-green or white, distal lamina hyaline, including apiculus or awn, distal laminal cells hexagonal to rhomboidal, less than 15 \um wide.

2. Plants hoary white, stems evenly foliate, slender, costa strong, excurrent in stout awn, somewhat recurved when dry; leaf axis bulbils lacking …….…………...… 5. Bryum lanatum

2. Plants silver to silver-green, stems julaceous to gemmiform, costa not reaching apex, apiculus usually present or sometimes absent, irregularly incurved when dry; leaf axis bulbils present ...................................................................................................................... 1. Bryum argenteum

1. Plants yellow-green, golden, olive-green or bright green, distal lamina not hyaline although apiculus if present sometimes hyaline, distal lamina cells variable, elongate vermicular to short and rhomboidal, 6--25 \um wide.

3. Distal laminal cells of innovation leaves elongate-vermicular, more than 6:1, and narrow, less than 8 \um; bulbils sometimes present in leaf axils; leaf base typically red ........…………..…................... 2. Bryum blindii

3. Distal laminal cells of innovation leaves not vermicular, shorter and broader, 2--4:1, mostly more than 8 \um wide; bulbils absent; leaf base red or green.

4. Plants golden or yellow-green; leaves triangular-ovate, costa strong, excurrent in long awn, erect-spreading when dry .............................................................................. 4. Bryum chryseum

4. Plants yellow-green, olive-green or bright green; leaves ovate to ovate-lanceolate, costa not reaching apex or rarely excurrent in a short stout awn.

5. Plants yellow-green, laminal cells of fertile stem leaves elongate-hexagonal, 4--5(--6):1; leaf base red .................…………… 6. Bryum oblongum

5. Plants olive green to bright green, laminal cells of stem leaves shorter, 2--3(--4):1, irregularly rhomoboidal to hexagonal; leaf base green.

6. Leaf apex acute, not cucullate, apiculus lacking or composed of 1--2 cells, distal laminal cells regularly hexagonal, 3--4:1, 10--16 \um wide, basal cells predominantly rectangular in alar region, 2--3:1 ................................ 7. Bryum veronense

6. Leaf apex rounded-obtuse to acute, cucullate, apiculus often present, generally of more than 2 cells, distal laminal cells short and irregularly rhomboidal, mostly 2--3:1, 12--25 \um wide, basal cells predominantly quadrate in alar region ....... 3. Bryum calobryoides

 

 

1. Bryum argenteum Hedwig, Spec. Musc. Frond., 181. 1801

 

Plants gregarious or in dense mats, white-green to silver-green. Stems 0.2--1 cm, strongly rounded julaceous or sometimes gemmiform Leaves imbricate dry, erect when wet, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, somewhat concave, 0.3--1(--1.2) mm; margins plane distally or rarely recurved proximally, apex broadly rounded to acute,  hyaline in distal 1/4--1/2 of leaf or rarely nearly entirely green, costa not reaching apex, hyaline apiculus usually present, sometimes short or nearly absent; distal laminal cells elongate-hexagonal, (30--)40--80 x 10--15, 3--5:1, thin walled or somewhat thickened but not distinctly incrassate, proximal cells usually quadrate or short-rectangular, 1--2:1, 12--18 \um wide. Specialized asexual reproduction by small leafy bulbils in axils of leaves.  Seta elongate, brown to red-brown, 1--2 cm, somewhat twisted when dry. Capsule inclined to pendant, 2--3 mm, ovate, red to red-brown, hypophysis differentiated, somewhat thickened. Spores 8--15 \um.

 

1. Stems loosely julaceous, leaves somewhat distant, green except for tips, apiculus long ....................................................... 1b. Bryum argenteum var. majus

1. Stems densely julaceous or sometimes short and gemmiform, leaves silver-green, hyaline in proximal 1/4--1/2 of leaf, apiculus short or long.

2. Plants small, stems mostly less than 2 mm, sometimes gemmiform, leaves often wider than broad, distal lamina cells relatively short, (2--)3--4:1, apiculus very short or sometimes absent ................................................................................................1c. B. argenteum var. muticum

2. Plants larger, stems 2--10 mm, julaceous, leaves usually longer than broad, distal lamina cells elongate, (3--)4--6:1, apiculus present, generally well developed  ...............................................................................................1a. B. argenteum var. argenteum

 

Bryum argenteum is perhaps the most widespread and distinctive moss in the world, although in many regions it is found primarily in urban or other heavily disturbed sites, and is mostly absent from native undisturbed habitats in the tropics.  There are about 15 silver-white species described, with species definitions based on a combination of one of  three or four different basic gametophyte morphologies combined with subtle differences in the sporophytes.  However, much of the gametophyte variability in the complex is also exhibited by B. argenteum itself, thus confusing species-level identifications. This complex is urgently in need of world-wide molecular and morphological studies.

 

1a. Bryum argenteum Hedwig var. argenteum

 

Plants silvery-green. Stems distinctly rounded julaceous, 0.5--1.0 cm. Leaves strongly imbricate, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, longer than broad, hyaline in distal 1/3--1/4 of leaf, apiculus well developed; distal laminal cells elongate-hexagonal, 3--4(--5):1.

 

Capsules mature spring--summer (Apr--Jul). Common on soil or soil over rock or in crevices, often in nitrogen enriched sites, usually in disturbed habitats; 0--4000 m; Greenland; St. Pierre and Miquelon; Alta., B.C., Man., N.B., Nfld. and Labr., N.W.T., N.S., Nunavut, Ont., P.E.I., Que., Sask., Yukon; Ala., Alaska, Ariz., Ark., Calif., Colo., Conn., Del., D.C., Fla., Ga., Idaho, Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., La., Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Miss., Mo., Mont., Nebr., Nev., N.H., N.J., N.Mex., N.Y., N.C., N.Dak., Ohio, Okla., Oreg., Pa., R.I., S.C., S.Dak., Tenn., Tex., Utah, Vt., Va., Wash., W.Va., Wis., Wyo.; Mexico; West Indies; Central America; South America; Eurasia; Africa; Atlantic Islands (Bermuda); Indian Ocean Islands; Pacific Islands (New Zealand); Australia; Antarctica.

 

1b. Bryum argenteum var. majus Schwägrichen, Sp. Musc. Frond., Suppl. 1, 2: 88. 1816

 

Plants greenish. Stems julaceous, 0.5--1 cm. Leaves loosely imbricate, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, longer than broad, hyaline near the leaf tip, apiculus well developed, long; distal laminal cells elongate-hexagonal, 3--4:1.

 

Capsules unknown. Rare, shaded moist soil, disturbed habitats; 0--500 m; N.H., Mo; w Europe.

 

Bryum argenteum var. majus is poorly understood, but seems distinctive. It may be more widely distributed.  The pale green loosely imbricate stems with hyaline apiculus are reminiscent of Plagiobrym zierii, bit that species has wide elongate laminal cells throughout the leaf, a pinkish coloration, and Arctic-alpine distribution.

 

1c. Bryum argenteum var. muticum Bridel, Bryol. Univ. 1: 846. 1827

 

Plants hoary white to silver-green. Stems gemmiform to shortly julaceous, 0.2--0.8 cm. Leaves ovate to ovate-lanceolate, often broader than long, hyaline in distal 1/2--1/4 of leaf, apiculus absent or very short, composed of 1--2 cells; distal laminal cells short-hexagonal, (1--)2--3:1, sometimes a few quadrate cells present.

 

Capsules unknown. Common, dry soil, soil over rock, crevices, lowland deserts to dry alpine tundra; 0--4,000 m; Ariz., Calif., Colo., Nev., N.Mex., Utah.

 

The var. muticum is widespread in extreme environments, but the world distribution is not well known.  Similar material from Antarctica and Australasia has been called B. subrotundifolium A. Jaeger.

 

2. Bryum blindii Bruch, Schimper & W. Gümbel, Bryol. Eur. 4: 163. 1846

 

Plants gregarious, green to yellow-green. Stems 0.2--1 cm, gemmiform to strongly rounded-julaceous. Leaves imbricate dry, erect when wet, ovate, somewhat concave, 0.3--1(--1.2) mm; margins plane, apex broadly acute, not hyaline in distal portion of leaf, costa not reaching apex,  apiculus absent; distal laminal cells of main (fertile) stem and innovation leaves linear-vermicular to elongate-hexagonal, (60--)70--90(--100) x 6--10(--12), (6--)8--10:1, with yellowish thick walls, proximal cells usually quadrate or short-rectangular, 1--2:1, 8--12 \um wide. Specialized asexual reproduction by small leafy bulbils in axils of leaves.  Seta elongate, red to red-brown, 1--2 cm, somewhat twisted when dry. Capsule inclined to pendant, 1--2 mm, ovate, red to red-brown, hypophysis differentiated, somewhat thickened and rugose when dry. Spores 10--18 \um.

 

Capsules mature summer (June--Aug). Rare, calcareous mineral soil, soil banks, cold-temperate to arctic-alpine regions; 0--3500 m; Greenland; B.C., N.W.T., Nunavut, Ont., Yukon; Cal., Colo., Vt., Maine, Mont.; n Eurasia.

 

One of the two collections of Bryum blindii  known from Colorado has leaves with a strongly excurrent costa and relatively short distal laminal cells (3--5:1), and is not typical material of the species.

 

3. Bryum calobryoides J. R. Spence, Bryologist 89: 215--218, fig. 1--8. 1986

 

Plants gregarious or in dense mats or cushions, bright green distally, brown proximally. Stems 0.5--1.5(--2) cm, strongly rounded julaceous. Leaves imbricate dry, erect when wet, ovate to suborbicular, concave, 0.2--1(--1.2) mm; margins plane distally, weakly recurved proximally, apex broadly rounded to acute,  not hyaline, costa not reaching apex, apiculus typically absent in distal leaves, present in proximal leaves, sometimes hyaline; distal laminal cells irregularly rhomboidal, (25--)30--75 x (8--)12--25, 1--4:1, thin walled or somewhat thickened but not distinctly incrassate, proximal cells usually quadrate or short-rectangular, 1--2:1, 12--18 \um wide. Specialized asexual reproduction lacking.  Sporophytes unknown.

 

Uncommon to locally common, primarily on calcareous damp soil, rocks; 1000--3000 m; Alta., B.C.; Calif., Colo., Idaho, Mont., Oreg., Wash.  Endemic.

 

Bryum calobryoides is easily distinguished by small strongly julaceous stems, strongly concave leaves, and distal leaves broadly rounded and cucullate. An undescribed species from Colorado occurs in similar habitats, but has a short-excurrent costa, acute leaf apices, and unusual, small, irregularly pyriform, rhizoidal tubers with bulging cell walls. Bryum gerwigii (Müller Hal.) Limpricht has been reported from Alberta, but the material is B. calobryoides.  Bryum gerwigii is a local waterfall form of Gemmabryum gemmiparum from central Europe.

 

4. Bryum chryseum Mitten, J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 12: 304. 1869

 

Plants gregarious or in dense mats, shiny golden-yellow to yellow-green or rarely pale green. Stems 0.5--1 cm, slender, weakly julaceous, clusters of red rhizoids often present on stem. Leaves imbricate dry, erect when wet, triangular to ovate, concave, 0.5--1 mm; margins plane distally or rarely recurved proximally, apex acuminate to acute,  not hyaline, costa strong, long-excurrent in slender colored awn, recurved when dry; distal laminal cells elongate-hexagonal to vermicular, (50--)60--90 x 8--12, (4--)6--8:1, thin to somewhat firm walled but not strongly incrassate, proximal cells usually quadrate or short-rectangular, 1--2:1, 12--18 \um wide. Specialized asexual reproduction lacking.  Seta elongate, red, 1--2 cm, somewhat twisted when dry. Capsule inclined to pendant, 3--4 mm, clavate to pyriform, brown, hypophysis slender, not differentiated; exostome sometimes reduced, with cilia sometimes short or nearly absent. Spores (8--)10--15 \um (in Mexican material).

 

Capsules unknown in the flora area. Rare, soil, Mediterranean and other seasonally dry climates; 200--800 m; Calif.; Mexico; Central America; South America (Bolivia, Chile, Columbia, Peru).

 

Bryum chryseum was found in California in two locations in native plant communities by D. Toren and K. Heise. Bryum chryseum is a species characteristic of seasonally dry climates from Mexico to Chile. The small plant size, golden color, and triangular leaves with a strong excurrent costa are diagnostic. It is superficially very similar to B. lanatum, but lacks the hyaline lamina and hoary-white color of that species. Depauperate material from Arizona with somewhat hyaline awns collected by N. G. Miller from calcareous sandy soil near Wilcox may belong to this species rather than to the gametophytically similar Leptostomopsis nivea. The latter differs from B. chryseum in hyaline awns, serrate distal leaf margins, and numerous extremely incrassate and vermicular distal laminal cells.

 

5. Bryum lanatum (P. Beauvois) Bridel, Muscol. Recent. Suppl. 3: 20. 1817

 

Bryum argenteum var. lanatum (P. Beauvois) Hampe, Linnaea 13: 44. 1839

 

Plants gregarious or in dense mats, hoary white. Stems 0.5--1(--1.5) cm, weakly julaceous. Leaves imbricate dry, erect-spreading when wet, ovate to ovate-lanceolate, somewhat concave, 0.3--1(--1.5) mm; margins plane distally or recurved proximally, apex acute,  hyaline in distal 1/2 of leaf, costa excurrent in long slender hyaline awn, recurved when dry; distal laminal cells elongate-hexagonal, 40--60 x 10--16, 4--5:1, walls somewhat thickened to distinctly incrassate, proximal cells usually quadrate or short-rectangular, 1--2:1, 10--16 \um wide. Specialized asexual reproduction absent.  Seta elongate, brown to red-brown, 1--2 cm, somewhat twisted when dry. Capsule inclined to pendant, (1--)2--3 mm, ovate, brown to red-brown, hypophysis differentiated, somewhat thickened and rugose. Spores 8--15 \um.

 

Capsules rare, mature spring--summer (May--Jul). Common to abundant on soil, soil over rock or rock in drier climates; 0--4200 m.; Greenland; Alta., B.C., Man., Nfld. and Labr., N.W.T., N.S., Nunavut, Que., Sask., Yukon; Alaska, Ariz., Calif., Colo., Idaho, Kans., Mo., Mont., Nebr., Nev., N.Mex.,  N.Dak., Okla., Oreg., S.Dak., Tex., Utah, Wash., Wyo; Mexico; West Indies; Central America; South America; Eurasia; Africa; Atlantic Islands (Bermuda); Pacific Islands (Hawaii,  New Zealand); Australia; Antarctica.

 

Although typically considered a variety of Bryum argenteum, B. lanatum from western North America and other parts of the world is quite distinctive.  However, the type of B. lanatum, from Europe, may be a form of B. argenteum, in which case a new name will need to be found.  It is characteristic of undisturbed native plants communities, and is especially common in semi-arid parts of the West on dry soil.  Bryum argenteum generally grows in more moist climates in highly disturbed sites, especially where there is excess nitrogen. The distribution of B. lanatum in the eastern part of North America is not well understood, as this species has been lumped into B. argenteum by all eastern bryologists.

 

6. Bryum oblongum Lindberg, Bot. Not. 1882: 26. 1882

 

Plants gregarious, green to yellow-green. Stems 0.2--1 cm, gemmiform to strongly rounded-julaceous. Leaves imbricate dry, erect when wet, ovate, somewhat concave, 0.3--1(--1.2) mm; margins plane, apex broadly acute, not hyaline in distal portion of leaf, costa not reaching apex,  apiculus absent; distal laminal cells of main (fertile) stem leaves elongate-hexagonal, (30--)35--60(--70) x 6--12 , 4--5(--6):1, thin-walled, not yellowish, distal laminal cells of innovation leaves shorter, proximal cells usually quadrate or short-rectangular, 1--2:1, 8--12 \um wide. Specialized asexual reproduction by small leafy bulbils in axils of leaves.  Seta elongate, red to red-brown, 1--2 cm, somewhat twisted when dry. Capsule inclined to pendant, 1--2 mm, ovate, red to red-brown, hypophysis slender to weakly differentiated, sometimes slightly thickened and weakly rugose when dry. Spores 10--18 \um.

 

Capsules mature summer (June--Aug). Rare, neutral mineral soil or soil banks, boreal to Arctic-alpine regions; 0--1500 m; Greenland; B.C., Yukon; Alaska; n Eurasia.

 

Shorter laminal cells of the innovations leaves distinguish B. oblongum from the closely related B. blindii.  A. J. Shaw (1981) also enumerated other differences, including generally shorter exostome teeth in B. oblongum (300--400 \um) against. longer teeth in B. blindii (400--500 \um). Sterile material from Montana may belong to this species.  Recently, small, sterile, brownish, julaceous plants from alpine areas of New York have been collected that are similar to B. oblongum, but they have a strongly bulging reddish costa and shorter leaf cells.  These collections are likely to represent an undescribed species.

 

7. Bryum veronense De Notaris, Comment. Soc. Crittog. Ital. 2: 212 [112]. 1866

 

Plants in dense mats, dark green to olive-green. Stems 0.4--1 cm, weakly julaceous to string-like. Leaves imbricate when dry, erect when wet, ovate, weakly concave, not cucullate, 0.2--1 mm; margins plane distally or rarely recurved proximally, apex acute, not hyaline, costa not reaching apex, apiculus lacking or a very short apiculus of 1--2 hyaline cells sometimes present; distal laminal cells hexagonal, (25--)30--55 x 10--16, mostly 3:1, thin walled to somewhat thickened but not distinctly incrassate, proximal cells usually short-rectangular, at least in alar region, 2--3:1, 12--18 \um wide. Specialized asexual reproduction lacking. Sporophyte unknown. 

 

Capsules unknown. Very rare, damp to dry soil, soil-filled crevices in sandstone; 1700 m.; Greenland; Colo.; Europe.

 

Bryum veronense has been recently collected from the Front Range of Colorado near Boulder by W.A. Weber and R. C. Wittmann, in soil-filled crevices in sandstone. The plants agree well with named European material, although they are a dark olive-green rather than the bright green of European material. This species is similar to B. calobryoides, but lacks the strongly julaceous stems, strongly concave leaves, and cucullate apices of that species.