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BFNA Title: Homalia |
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XX. HOMALIA
Bridel, Bryol. Univ. 2: 812. 1827 * [Greek homalos, even or level, alluding to the strongly complanate
leaves] Plants small to robust, flat, shiny green to
yellowish green. Stem creeping,
somewhat stoloniferous, sparsely branched to irregularly branched. Paraphyllia absent. Pseudoparaphyllia absent [present]. Branch leaves flat, appearing
distichous, erect-spreading, smooth, oblong-ovate to oblong-obovate, apex
rounded, margins entire to serrulate; costa single or very short and double,
cells rounded-hexagonal to linear; smooth or porose. Inner perichaetial leaves ovate [broadly lanceolate], sheathing
at base, gradually to abruptly subulate; margins entire proximally, entire
[serrate at apex]; costa absent [present, single to short and double]; basal cells
rectangular, apical cells and distal median cells linear. Sexual condition autoicous [synoicous
or dioicous]. Seta yellow to
yellowish brown, 1--1.5[--2] cm. Capsule
erect to sub-erect, [oblong-ovoid] oblong-cylindric, neck narrow; exostome
teeth lanceolate, dorsally densely cross-striate and papillose basally,
vertically papillose and hyaline distally, ventrally smooth, trabeculate;
endostome segments lanceolate, keeled, perforated along keel, papillose
distally, smooth proximally, basal membrane well developed, cilia present,
nodulose. Spores 11--14[--16] \um. Species 5 (1
in the flora): North America, In the field, Homalia is easily distinguished by the
flat stems and glossy plants. SELECTED
REFERENCES: Crum, H. A., and L. E.
Anderson. 1981. Mosses of 1. Homalia trichomanoides (Hedwig) Schimper, Bryol. Eur. 5: 55.
1850 Leskea trichomanoides Hedwig, Sp. Musc. Frond., 231. 1801 Plants medium sized, forming glossy mats;
flagelliform branches or tips present.
Primary creeping stem leaves appressed, oblong-ovate, 0.5--1 mm; apex
acute; margins entire; costa short-double or single[absent]; apical cells
linear; basal cells rectangular, distal median cells linear. Stem and branch leaves widely
spreading, asymmetric, obovate, oblong-ovate to oblong-spatulate, 1--2(--3) mm;
apex rounded, obtuse to obtuse-apiculate; margins serrulate to serrate at
apex, entire proximally; slightly decurrent at insertion; costa single, 1/2
to 3/4 of leaf length; apical cells rounded-hexagonal to rhombic,
(5--)6--7.5(--17) \um, sometimes weakly porose; distal median cells
long-hexagonal to linear, (13--)20--30(--50) \um, sometimes porose; basal
juxtacostal cells oblong-linear, (22--)40--60(--80) \um, slightly porose;
alar cells, slightly differentiated, rectangular to quadrate, 10--30 \um. Varieties 2 (1
in the flora): North America, 1a. Homalia trichomanoides (Hedwig) Schimper var. trichomanoides Plants 3--7 cm. Sexual condition autoicous. Capsules mature
May--Nov. Base of trees, roots, rotten logs, shaded boulders, shady banks,
limestone cliffs, soil; 150--1000 m; B.C., N.B., N.F., N.S., Ont., Que.;
Ariz., Maine, Mass., Mich., Minn., N.H., N.Y., N.C., Pa., Tenn., Va., Vt.,
Wash., Wis.; Mexico; Europe; Asia (China, India, Japan, Korea). Homalia trichomanoides var. trichomanoides has a wide distribution and can be distinguished
from H. trichomanoides var. japonica by sexual condition, which is
dioicous in the latter. Also the flora variety is larger than var. japonica and tends to produce less
attenuated branch tips or flagelliform branches. |
