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BFNA Title: Alsia |
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XX. ALSIA
Sullivant, Proc. Am. Ac. Arts Sci. 3: 184. 1855 * [Anagram of the generic name Lasia, reflecting overall similarity
to Lasia now Forsstroemia] Clayton C. Newberry Secondary stems erect-ascending, densely foliate. Branching
pinnate and frondiform distally. Paraphyllia abundant, 1-seriate-filiform to
dissected-lanceolate and irregularly branching; pseudoparaphyllia investing the branch buds,
dissected-lanceolate to subfoliose. Stem
leaves loosely imbricate when
dry, spreading when moist, concave, lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate; margins
slightly recurved, mostly entire, at the apex plane and sometimes weakly
serrulate, at the base more strongly recurved; apex acute to acuminate, the
base obtuse; costa variable even on the same plant, either weak and almost
absent, or short and double, or strong and disappearing halfway up the leaf; apical
cells short, oval-rhombic, incrassate; median cells oval-oblong, 2--3:1, incrassate;
basal cells rounded to quadrate, incrassate, filling the basal angles and
extending halfway up the margin; all marginal cells shorter than laminal. Branch leaves smaller than main stem
leaves, narrower, the costa weaker or sometimes altogether lacking. Sexual
condition dioicous. Seta usually shorter than the
perichaetial leaves, 3--5 mm. Capsule short, erect-symmetric or
nearly so; stomata sunken and mostly basal; annulus not differentiated; peristome
double; endostome segments arising from a narrow basal membrane; operculum oblique-rostrate. Calyptra
cucullate, naked. Spores brownish,
finely papillose, to 20 \um. Species 1,
varieties none: maritime Pacific coast
of western Alsia is strikingly similar to Forsstroemia trichomitria, but the two
species are completely distinct geographically. Alsia
is endemic to the west coast of North America, while F. trichomitria is broadly distributed in eastern North America,
occurring no further west than SELECTED
REFERENCES Norris, D. H. and J. S. Shevock. 2004.
Contributions towards a bryoflora of California II. A key to the mosses. Madroño 51(2): 133--269. Manuel, M.
1974. A revised classification
of the Leucodontaceae and a revision of the subfamily Alsioideae. Bryologist 77: 531--550. Schofield, W. B. 1976.
Bryophytes of 1. Alsia californica (Hooker & Arnott) Sullivant, Proc.
Am. Ac. Arts Sci. 3: 185. 1855 Neckera californica Hooker & Arnott, Bot. Capt.
Beechey’s Voyage, 162. 1833 Plants robust, green to yellow-green to
stramineous, in thick, loose mats, tail-forming and spreading widely over the
substrate. Main stem inconspicuous, stoloniform, plagiotropic, tightly
adnate against the substrate. Secondary stems to 8 cm, irregularly
subpinnate proximally, more regularly pinnate and frondiform-complanate
distally, often curling upward when dry, uncurling erect-ascending when
moist, internally divided into a strong 4--6-layered cortex of incrassate,
yellow to light brown cells and a medulla of loose, thin-walled hyaline
cells; central strand lacking. Stem leaves to 2 mm. Lateral
branches of unequal length, 5--6(--15) mm, occasionally bearing
gametangia or small (less than 3 mm) branchlets, occasionally flagelliform
and tapering in moist maritime situations; branch paraphyllia similar to
those on main stem, less common. Perigonia
conspicuous, persistent, barely 1 mm, borne ± subpinnate and complanate on
the secondary stem, occasionally on the side branches, the leaves smallish
and apically apiculate, mostly ecostate, the antheridia fusiform. Perichaetial
branches distinctive, borne ± irregularly subpinnate and complanate on
the main stem, up to 5 mm; the outer perichaetial leaves ovate to
ovate-lanceolate, ecostate, the inner elongate, sheathing, at the apex
narrowing abruptly and contracted into a filiform-acuminate point, laminal cells
elongate, basally rectangular at 1:5, towards mid-leaf to 1:16. Seta
brown to red-yellow, straight, mostly sheathed by and only slightly
emergent from the perichaetial leaves.
Capsules yellowish brown,
1.5--2 mm, barely exserted beyond the perichaetial leaves, oblong-cylindric,
the surface smooth; exostome teeth hyaline to brownish yellow, broadly
subulate, trabeculate, punctulate-scabrous; endostome segments pale brownish yellow,
narrowly subulate, occasionally perforate up the middle, finely papillose;
basal membrane low; cilia lacking. Bark of trunks
and branches of Acer, Alnus,
Chrysolepis, Lithocarpus, Quercus, Picea, Populus, Sambucus, Sequoia, Umbellularia;
rock surfaces, usually siliceous, north of California occasionally
calcareous; 0--700 m (usually less than 100 m); B.C.; Calif., Oreg., Wash.; Mexico
(Baja California). Alsia californica is an important component of the moss
flora of mostly maritime western |
