BFNA Title: Leptopterigynandrum
Author: W. A. Weber
Date: April 25, 2008
Edit Level: R
Version: 2a

Bryophyte Flora of North America, Provisional Publication
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LESKEACEAE -- LEPTOPTERIGYNANDRUM

XX. LEPTOPTERIGYNANDRUM Müller Hal., Hedwigia 36: 114. 1897 * [Greek, leptos, slender, and the moss genus name Pterigynandrum]

William A. Weber

Stems small and slender, in flat, light green or brown mats; pseudoparaphyllia foliose. Stem and branch leaves similar, imbricate when dry, erect-spreading when moist, 1--1.5(--2) mm, ovate, abruptly acuminate to a very slender apex, slightly decurrent; margins plane, entire or somewhat serrulate toward the apex; costa variable, forked from the base or just beyond a short base, 1/3--1/2 leaf length, often bearing rhizoids on the adaxial surface of the leaf base; cells short-rhomboidal, firm-walled, bearing many exceedingly fine papillae (with oil immersion lens). Sexual condition probably autoicous. Perichaetial leaves erect, subulate-pointed, often serrulate at the apex. Seta scarcely 1 cm. Capsule erect, symmetric, oblong-cylindric; operculum short-conic; peristome teeth lance-subulate, papillose, with scarcely projecting lamellae, endostome consisting of short, very narrow segments from a short basal membrane; cilia lacking. Calyptra not seen.

Species 7 (1 in the flora): North America, South America, Asia.

1. Leptopterigynandrum austroalpinum Müller Hal., Hedwigia 36: 114. 1897

Stems creeping, irregularly branched, julaceous when dry; paraphyllia none. Leaf cells 20--26(--34) x (7--)10(--13) \um; alar cells quadrate to oblate-rectangular, in many rows extending distally along the leaf margin.

Non-calcareous, vertical rock faces, soil in rock crevices; moderate elevations; Alaska, Colo., N.Mex.; Mexico; South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Peru); Africa (Lesotho); Eurasia.

Leptopterigynandrum austroalpinum resembles species of Pseudoleskeella and grows in similar habitats. However, the leaves are more appressed, never catenulate, and the leaf cells are several times longer than wide. The tiny leaf papillae are difficult to see without an oil immersion lens. In Colorado this species does not appear to be especially rare, but may easily be mistaken for the common Pseudoleskeella tectorum. Revisionary studies are needed to establish the distinctness of the six Asiatic taxa, all of which may well be identical to the one from the Western Hemisphere.

SELECTED REFERENCES Gangulee, H. C. 1976. Mosses of India and Adjacent Regions. Fasc. 7: 1581--1583. Calcutta. Sharp, A. J., H. Crum and P. M. Eckel. Moss Flora of Mexico. 2 vols. New York.