BFNA Title: Seligeriaceae
Author: D. H. Vitt & J. Spence
Date: May 3, 2004
Edit Level: R
Version: 2

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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Seligeria - Seligeriaceae

XXX. SELIGERIACEAE

Dale H. Vitt

Plants minute and gregarious or larger, forming compact tufts and cushions, unbranched to rarely 2--3-branched, on rock, acrocarpous. Leaves twisted-spreading to stiffly erect when dry, generally erect-spreading to spreading, sometimes slightly curved when moist, linear to stoutly subulate from clasping base; margins plane, entire to denticulate; costa single, homogenous in transverse-section, ending near the apex to long-excurrent, distal leaf cells smooth, short; alar cells not differentiated to somewhat enlarged and colored. Seta straight, flexuose or cygneous. Capsule mostly erect, symmetric, cylindric-ovate to turbinate; peristome haplolepideous, of 16 triangular entire teeth or lacking.

Genera 4 (3 in the flora): widely distributed in temperate and polar regions.

1. Capsules striate; peristome finely papillose or absent; annulus well-developed; calyptra mitrate . . . 3. Brachydontium, p. XXX

1. Capsules smooth; peristome smooth; annulus ill-formed; calyptra cucullate.

2. Alar cells not differentiated or sometimes enlarged; dioicous; calcareous rocks. . . . 1. Seligeria, p. XXX

2. Alar cells reddish and inflated; autoicous; acid rocks. . . . 2. Blindia, p. XXX

1. SELIGERIA Bruch, Schimper & W. Gümbel, Bryol. Eur. 2: 7. 846 * [For Ignaz Seliger, a Silesian pastor]

Dale H. Vitt

Plants of calcareous rocks, light green to black. Alar cells not differentiated to colored and enlarged. Sexual condition autoicous. Capsule smooth; annulus ill-formed; peristome teeth smooth. Calyptra cucullate.

Species ca. 20 (13 in the flora): North America, Europe, Asia, Pacific Islands (New Zealand).

This genus is characterized as tiny acrocarpous plants, with more or less ovate, smooth capsules and linear-lanceolate leaves, and a calcareous substrate as habitat.

SELECTED REFERENCE Vitt, D. H. 1976. The genus Seligeria in North America. Lindbergia 3: 241--275.

1. Capsules without a peristome, margins of leaf in proximal 1/3 denticulate . . . 7. Seligeria donniana

1. Capsules with a peristome, margins subentire to entire.

2. Spores 17--30 µm.

3. Spores (20--)23--30 µm; peristome of 16 reduced teeth, each of 5--8 cells . . . . 8. Seligeria oelandica

3. Spores 17--25(--27) µm; peristome of 16 fully developed teeth.

4. Capsules turbinate when old and dry; seta 1--1.5 mm; columella elongate with opercula tending to remain attached; leaves often trifarious . . . . 13. Seligeria tristichoides

4. Capsules ovate, sometimes with flaring mouth when old and dry; seta 2--3 mm; columella short, not persistent, not attached to opercula; leaves spreading-recurved, evenly spaced around stem, not trifarious . . . . 9. Seligeria polaris

2. Spores 10--16 µm.

5. Costa excurrent, filling subulate apex.

6. Seta curved 30--90° when wet . . . . 11. Seligeria recurvata

6. Seta straight when wet.

7. Leaves wiry, stiffly flexuose, long-subulate, light green to dull-green; cells of leaf lamina longer than broad, pellucid; seta less than 1 mm; capsule turbinate when old, emergent . . . . 5. Seligeria careyana

7. Leaves recurved-twisted to stiffly erect, stoutly subulate from a wide base, dark-green to black; cells of distal leaf lamina usually as wide as long, opaque; seta greater than 1 mm; capsule ± ovate to oblong when old, emergent to exserted.

8. Leaves stiffly-erect when dry; plants dark-green, gregarious; spores 14--16 µm; capsule contracted to seta through a wrinkled neck when old; eastern North America . . . . 3. Seligeria calcarea

8. Leaves twisted when dry; plants blackish, forming turfs; spores 10--14 µm; capsule ± sharply contracted to seta when old; western North America . . . . 12. Seligeria subimmersa

5. Costa (except in perichaetial leaves) ending just before apex, lamina present into apex.

9. Plants light green; cells of leaf lamina pellucid, tending to be longer than broad; vegetative leaves linear, sometimes ± subulate; capsule turbinate to obovate, widest at mouth.

10. Perichaetial leaves subulate from an ovate, sheathing base, abruptly differentiated from vegetative leaves . . . . 1. Seligeria acutifolia

10. Perichaetial and vegetative leaves similar, sometimes distal leaves larger, but always similar to proximal leaves in shape.

11. Leaves short, ligulate; apex broadly acute to obtuse; capsule ± pyriform when old; peristome large . . . . 2. Seligeria brevifolia

11. Leaves long, subulate; apex narrowly acute; capsule obovate to pyriform when old; peristome small . . . . 10. Seligeria pusilla

9. Plants olive-green to dark-green; cells of distal leaf lamina ± opaque, usually as broad as long; leaves oblong to lanceolate; capsule ovate to oblong, not clearly widest at mouth.

11. Leaves stiffly erect when dry, narrowed to an obtuse, incurved, channeled acumen; perichaetial leaves clasping and rapidly narrowed to stout subula; capsule ± as wide at middle as at mouth; seta ± thick, straight to slightly curved when wet . . . . 6. Seligeria diversifolia

11. Leaves curved and loosely arranged when dry, narrowed to obtuse, plane, erect acumen; perichaetial leaves usually not clasping, similar to vegetative leaves; capsule wider at middle than at mouth; seta thin, curved 30--90° when wet . . . . 4. Seligeria campylopoda

1. Seligeria acutifolia Lindberg in C. Hartman, Handb. Skand. Fl. Ed. 9, 2: 75. 1864

Plants delicate, light green. Leaves broadly linear to lanceolate, shortly subulate from broad base, acute; costae percurrent; margins entire; leaf cells (1--)3:1; perichaetial leaves subulate from sheathing base, abruptly differentiated. Seta 1--1.5 mm, straight, stout. Capsule hemispheric to broadly ovate, as long as broad, widest at mouth, peristome of 16 well-developed teeth; columella immersed. Spores 12--14 µm.

Calcareous substrates; B.C.; Alaska; Europe; Asia.

This species is known from only a few localities along the hyperoceanic West Coast. Seligeria acutifolia differs from closely related species in having sharply differentiated perichaetial leaves and a short, stout seta. The capsules are usually shortly exserted or sometimes emergent.

2. Seligeria brevifolia (Lindberg) Lindberg, K. Svenske Vet. Ak. Handl. 23(10): 84. 1890

Seligeria pusilla var. brevifolia Lindberg, Oefv. K. Vet. Ak. Foerh. 21: 188. 1864

Plants delicate, light green. Leaves linear to lanceolate-linear, gradually narrowed, broadly acute, costae ending just below apex; margins entire, leaf cells (1--)3:1; perichaetial leaves longer, but otherwise similar to vegetative leaves, not much differentiated. Seta 1.8--2.2 mm, straight to flexuose, slender. Capsule obovate to oblong, longer than wide, broadest at mouth when old; peristome of 16, long, well-developed teeth; columella immersed. Spores 10-12 µm.

Calcareous substrates; N.B., Nfld., Que.; Europe, Asia

This species is known from only a few localities in Atlantic Canada. It is most closely related to S. pusilla, from which it differs by shorter, wider leaves. Seligeria brevifolia is additionally characterized by a light green color and short, linear to narrowly lanceolate-linear leaves with a broadly acute point. The leaf cells are pellucid and rectangular to quadrate. The setae are slightly flexuose when moist; the capsules are obovate and gradually narrowed to the seta. When old and dry the capsules are widest at the mouth. The peristome is reddish, smooth, recurved, and long, usually extending along the capsule about 1/4 way.

3. Seligeria calcarea (Hedwig) Bruch, Schimper & W. Gümbel, Bryol. Eur. 2: 10. 110. 1849

Weisia calcarea Hedwig, Spec. Musc. 66. 1801

Plants tiny, olive-green. Leaves linear-lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, stoutly subulate from oblong-ovate base, narrowly obtuse; costae ending in apex, filling subula; margins entire; leaf cells (1--)2:1; perichaetial leaves somewhat larger but similar to vegetative leaves, not much differentiated. Seta 1--1.5 mm, straight. Capsule ovate to hemispheric, as wide as long, widest at mouth only when old; peristome of 16 well-developed teeth; columella immersed. Spores 14--16 µm.

Calcareous substrates; Alta., Man., N.W.T., Nfld., Ont., Que.; Ark., Ind., Iowa, Ky., Mich., Minn., Mo., Mont., N.Y., Ohio, Pa., Tenn., Vt., Wis.; Europe.

Seligeria calcarea is relatively common in e North America from Newfoundland s to Arkansas, and known from a few stations in western Canada and Montana. While the long, stoutly subulate leaves are quite similar to those of S. donniana; the leaf margins of S. calcarea are entire and those of S. donniana are denticulate. The sporophytes of S. calcarea are generally distinctive: the capsules gradually contract to the seta though a shriveled neck, a well-developed peristome is present, and the length of the capsule equals or slightly exceeds the width. It is distinguished from S. pusilla in having a subula filled by an expanded costa, whereas S. pusilla has a slender costa ending in the apex.

4. Seligeria campylopoda Kindberg in J. Macoun & N. C. Kindberg, Cat. Canad. Pl. 6: 41. 1892

Seligeria recurvata var. rcuate Lesquereux & James; S. subcampylopoda Kindberg

Plants tiny, olive-green. Leaves lanceolate-ligulate, gradually narrowed, obtuse to broadly acute; costae ending just below apex; margins entire; leaf cells (1--)2:1; perichaetial leaves larger, similar to vegetative leaves, not much differentiated. Seta 1.6--3 mm, flexuose to curved 30--90° in distal portion especially when dry. Capsule ovate-oblong to ovate-cylindric, longer than broad, narrower at mouth; peristome of 16 well-developed teeth; columella immersed. Spores 10-12 µm.

Calcareous substrates; Alta., B.C, N.B., Nfld., Nunavut, Ont., Que., Yukon; Alaska, Colo., Iowa, Mich., Minn., Mont., N.Y., Pa., S.Dak., Wash., Wis.

This is perhaps the most frequently collected species of the genus, and is relatively common along the calcareous parts of the western Cordillera and along the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Seaway. Otherwise, it has a scattered distribution, known from as far north as Bathurst I. and as far south as Colorado and Pennsylvania. Seligeria campylopoda is distinguished in having entire, lanceolate-ligulate leaves with an obtuse tip. The costa is narrow and ends in or just below the apex. The leaf lamina is present in the apex of the leaf. The setae are long and usually curved (most noticeable when moist) in their distal portions. The capsules are longer than broad, being ovate-oblong when dry.

5. Seligeria careyana Vitt & W. B. Schofield, Bryologist 79: 232. 1976

Plants delicate, yellow-green to light green. Leaves linear to linear-lanceolate, long-subulate, acute; costa ending in apex, filling subula; margins entire to slightly crenulate; leaf cells 1:2(--3); perichaetial leaves subulate from wider base. Seta 0.8--1 mm, straight. Capsule hemispheric to ovate, turbinate when old; peristome of 16, red, smooth teeth; columella short and immersed. Spores 10--13 µm.

Moist protected limestone cliffs; B.C.

Known only from the type locality in the Queen Charlotte Islands, S. careyana is characterized by its emergent, ovate capsules, which tend to become turbinate with a flaring mouth when old and dry. The leaves are linear, with an extremely long, slender subula formed almost entirely of the costa. The leaves, except for the interior perichaetial leaves, rarely flare outward to any extent at the base.

6. Seligeria diversifolia Lindberg, Oefv. K. Vet. Ak. Foerh. 18: 281. 1861

Plants tiny, olive-green. Leaves ovate-oblong to broadly ligulate, gradually narrowed, obtuse, costa ending before apex, margins entire; leaf cells (1--)2:1; perichaetial leaves sharply contracted to stout, short subula from clasping base, strongly differentiated. Seta 2--2.5 mm, twisted, curved when moist, ± straight when dry, slender. Capsule ovate-oblong to oblong, longer than broad, not widest at mouth; peristome of 16 well-developed teeth; columella immersed. Spores 9--11 µm.

Stones, cliff faces; N.B., Que., Yukon; Alaska; Europe; Asia.

This species occurs on stones in Arctic Alaska, then south along the western mountains into the Yukon, and is found on cliff faces from a few stations in eastern North America. Seligeria diversifolia is slender and stiff with differentiated perichaetial leaves, and a straight to slightly curved seta when moist while the similar S. campylopoda has curved-twisted leaves, no differentiated perichaetial leaves, and a markedly curved seta when moist.

7. Seligeria donniana (Smith) J. K. A. Müller, Syn. 1: 420. 1848

Gymnostomum donnianum Smith, Engl. Bot. 22: 1806

Plants tiny, olive-green. Leaves linear-lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, stoutly subulate from ovate base, narrowly obtuse; costae ending in apex, filling subula; margins serrulate; leaf cells (1--)2:1; perichaetial leaves somewhat larger, similar to vegetative leaves, not much differentiated. Seta 1.3--1.6 mm, straight to slightly flexuose, slender. Capsule hemispheric to turbinate, wider than long, widest at mouth only when old; peristome none, columella immersed. Spores 11--14 µm.

Crevices and protected areas of bare calcareous rock; Alta., B.C., N.B., Nfld., N.W.T., Ont., Que., Yukon; Colo., Iowa, Mich., Mo., Mont., N.Y., Ohio, Pa., Tenn., Wash.; Europe; Asia.

Frequent in the western Canadian mountains on calcareous cliffs, S. donniana is disjunct to Colorado, and in temperate eastern North America is found from Tennessee north to Newfoundland. The tiny, stiff plants with stoutly subulate leaves with serrulate proximal portions are characteristic of this species. The capsules are hemispheric in shape, are relatively small, and have no peristome.

8. Seligeria oelandica C. E. O. Jensen & Medelius, Bot. Not. 1929: 42. 1. 1929

Plants small, dark-brown to blackish. Leaves lanceolate, stoutly subulate from oblong base, narrowly obtuse; costa ending in apex, filling subula; margins entire; leaf cells (1--)2:1; perichaetial leaves somewhat larger, similar to vegetative leaves, not much differentiated. Seta 0.8--1.2 mm, straight to slightly curved, stout. Capsule hemispheric-obovate to turbinate and flaring at mouth when old; peristome reduced to 16, short, blunt teeth; columella exserted. Spores (20--)23--28(--30) µm.

Calcareous substrates; N.W.T., Que., Yukon; Alaska; Europe.

This species is rare and disjunctive, known only from a few stations in eastern Quebec and from several localities in Alaska and the Yukon. It is distinguished from its closest relative, S. tristichoides, by the branched turf-forming habit, twisted-curved leaves, pronounced turbinate capsules, larger spores, and reduced peristome. The spores are the largest in the genus; that and the persistent columella distinguish this rare species from all others.

9. Seligeria polaris Berggren, K. Svensk. Vet. Ak. Handl. 13 (7): 41. 1875

Plants small, black to red-black. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, subulate from oblong-ovate base, bluntly acute to narrowly obtuse; costa ending in apex, filling subula; margins entire; leaf cells (1--)2:1; perichaetial leaves somewhat larger, similar to vegetative leaves, not much differentiated. Seta 2--3 mm, straight, slightly flexuose or curved, slender. Capsule ovate to obovate, slightly longer than wide, widest at mouth; peristome of 16 well-developed teeth; columella immersed. Spores (16--)17--25(--27) µm.

Calcareous substrate; Greenland; N.W.T., Nunavut, Yukon; Alaska; Europe.

Seligeria polaris is known from the Canadian Arctic Islands and from northern Alaska and Yukon, and is disjunct in southwestern N.W.T. This Arctic species is easily recognized by relatively large-sized, blackish plants; recurved-twisted leaves; long and slightly curved seta; and spores that are 17--25 µm. This species somewhat resembles Blindia acuta in color and the presence of somewhat differentiated alar cells, but is distinguished by calcareous habitat (versus acidic rock habitat in Blindia) and smaller plant size.

10. Seligeria pusilla (Hedwig) Bruch, Schimper & W. Gümbel, Bryol. Eur. 2: 10. 110. 1846

Weisia pusilla Hedwig, Spec. Musc. 64. 1801

Plants delicate, light green. Leaves linear, sometimes from slightly widened base, gradually narrowed, slenderly acute; costa ending just below apex; margins entire to ± crenulate; leaf cells (2--)3:1; perichaetial leaves acuminate from ovate sheathing base. Seta 1.5--3 mm, slender, long, flexuose. Capsule oblong-ovate to ovate-pyriform when old; peristome of 16 well-developed teeth; columella immersed. Spores 10--13 µm.

Calcareous cliffs; Nun.; Alaska, Ark., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Ky., Minn., Mo., Ohio, Tenn., Wis.; Europe; Asia.

This is a rare species with a highly scattered distribution, having occurrences in northern Alaska, Ellesmere Island, and in temperate eastern North America from Minnesota south and east to Tennessee. Seligeria pusilla has linear leaves with a relatively narrow costa that does not fill the apex. The acute leaf tips have cells that are thin-walled and somewhat longer than wide. The plants are light green and have a delicate aspect to them. Seligeria brevifolia and S. acutifolia both have differentiated perichaetial leaves whereas S. pusilla has capsules surrounded by leaves similar to (although somewhat longer than) those farther down the stem.

11. Seligeria recurvata (Hedwig) Bruch, Schimper & W. Gümbel, Bryol. Eur. 2: 12. 112. 1846

Grimmia recurvata Hedwig, Spec. Musc. 75. 1801

Plants tiny or small, olive-green. Leaves linear from broad base, slenderly subulate from oblong base, narrowly acute; costa ending in apex, filling subula; margins entire; leaf cells (1--)3:1; perichaetial leaves somewhat larger, similar to vegetative leaves, not much differentiated. Seta 2--3 mm, curved to cygneous. Capsule ovate-oblong to ovate-cylindric, longer than broad, narrower at mouth, peristome of 16 well-developed teeth; columella immersed. Spores 8--10 µm.

Calcareous substrates; B.C., N.B., Nfld., Ont., Que.; Mich., MO., N.J., N.Y., Tenn., Wash.; Europe; Asia.

This species is disjunct in Washington and southern British Columbia in western North America to Newfoundland south to Tennessee and west to Michigan in the East. This species is distinguished by the combination of cyneous seta, oblong rather narrow capsules, and subulate leaves with the costa filling the apex. Seligeria campylopoda has similar sporophytic features, but has broader leaves with the costa ending in, but not filling, the apex. The spores of both these species are small.

12. Seligeria subimmersa Lindberg, Musci Scand. 25. 1879

Plants small, black to green-black. Leaves linear-lanceolate to obovate lanceolate, stoutly subulate, from obovate to ovate base, narrowly obtuse; costa ending in apex, filling subula; margins entire; leaf cells (1--)2:1; perichaetial leaves somewhat larger, similar to vegetative leaves, not much differentiated. Seta 1--1.5(--2) mm, straight, curved, or abruptly bent at capsule. Capsule ovate to oblong, as long or slightly longer than wide; peristome of 16 well-developed teeth, often broken when old; columella immersed. Spores 10--13(--15) µm.

Calcareous rocks; Alta., B.C., N.W.T., Yukon; Alaska; Europe.

This species is found from Alaska and the Yukon south along the Canadian Rocky Mountains to Alberta. Seligeria subimmersa and S. polaris are two closely related species that share black coloration, branched turf-forming plants, subulate leaves with the costa filling the apex, and relatively well-differentiated alar cells. From the latter species, S. subimmersa is distinguished by smaller spores (10--15 µm), smaller stouter leaves that are more stiffly twisted, bent seta, and more ovate capsules. This rare species somewhat resembles the more common S. calcarea, the latter, however, has somewhat larger spores, and much smaller gametophores.

13. Seligeria tristichoides Kindberg, Rev. Bryol. 23: 20. 1896

Plants tiny, olive-green to light green. Leaves lanceolate, to ovate-lanceolate, often stoutly subulate from broader base, narrowly obtuse to broadly acute; costa ending in apex or filling it; margins entire to crenulate; leaf cells (1--)2:1; perichaetial leaves larger and longer than vegetative leaves, somewhat differentiated. Seta 1--1.5 mm, slightly curved, stout. Capsule hemispheric to obovate-turbinate, flaring at mouth when old; peristome of 16, broad, well-developed teeth; columella exserted. Spores (15--)18--24 µm.

Calcareous cliffs; B.C., Nfld., N.S., N.W.T., Que., Yukon; Alaska, Colo., N.H., Vt.; Europe.

Seligeria tristichoides is relatively frequent in Alaska and western Canada, and is disjunct in Colorado and in the east ranges from Newfoundland south to Vermont. This tiny gregarious species has a persistent columella and well-developed peristome. These features, along with the turbinate capsules and subulate vegetative leaves with costa filling the apex, are diagnostic. As the epithet attests, the leaves are often somewhat three-ranked.

OTHER REFERENCES

Crum, H. A. and L. E. Anderson. 1981. Mosses of Eastern North America, Vol. I, pp. 143--149. New York.

2. BLINDIA Bry. Eur. Fasc. 33--36. 1846 * [for Pastor J. J. Blind of Münster, Germany]

Dale H. Vitt

Plants of acidic rock, blackish. Alar cells colored and inflated. Sexual condition dioicous. Capsule smooth; annulus ill-formed; peristome teeth smooth. Calyptra cucullate.

Species 15 (1 in the flora): acidic rocks in cool temperate, high latitudes, and montane regions of both hemispheres; Greenland, North America, Central America, Iceland, Europe, Asia, Africa.

SELECTED REFERENCE Bartlett, J. and D. H. Vitt. 1986. A survey of species in the genus Blindia (Bryopsida, Selegerianceae). New Zealand J. Bot. 24: 203--246.

1. Blindia acuta (Hedwig) Bruch, Schimper & W. Gümbel, Bryol. Eur. 2: 19. 1846.

Weissia acuta Hedwig, Spec. Musc. 71. 1801

Plants often blackish or dark brown, sometimes olive-green. Leaves secund to often deciduous, lanceolate-subulate, obtuse, costae filling subula; margins denticulate at apex, entire below, leaf cells (1--)3:1, quadrate to rectangular-eilliptic; perichaetial leaves abruptly subulate. Seta 3--13 mm, flexuose. Capsule ovate to narrowly pyriform, peristome of 16, lanceolate teeth; columella not developed. Spores 13-20 µm.

Moist or dripping acidic rock faces, 0--3000 m, most common in montane/alpine habitats; Greenland; Alta., B.C., N.B., Nfld., N.W.T., N.S., Nunavut, Ont., Que., Yukon; Alaska, Calif., Colo., Mich., Minn., Mont., N.H., N.Y., N.C.; Ore., Penn., Tenn., Vt., Wash., Wyo.; Central America (Guatemala); Europe; Asia; Africa; Atlantic Islands (Iceland).

This species of moist Arctic-montane habitats forms soft blackish mats on acidic rocks. The well-developed alar cells, smooth leaf cells, subulate leaves, and short-ovate, smooth capsules with well-developed, smooth peristome teeth are distinguishing feature of Blindia acuta. Seligeria species are smaller and occur on calcareous rocks.

3. BRACHYDONTIUM Fürnrohr, Flora 10(2): Beil. 37. 1827 * [For the short peristome teeth]

Dale H. Vitt

John R. Spence

Plants of acidic rock, often volcanic, brownish. Alar cells not differentiated. Perigonial leaves broader and shorter than vegetative leaves. Perichaetial leaves similar to vegetative leaves. Sexual condition autoicous or rarely dioicous. Capsules striate; annulus compound; peristome teeth papillose or absent. Calyptra mitrate to sometimes sub-cucullate.

Species 9 (2 in the flora): North America, Central America (Honduras), South America (Brazil, Colombia), Europe, Asia, Australia.

Brachydontium is a genus of tiny, brownish plants of acidic rocks with striate capsules and peristomes ranging from well developed to completely lacking. The species in the flora are olive-green to brownish, stems ca. 0.6--2 mm; leaves 0.5--2.5 mm, erect, in ± two apparent rows, lanceolate-subulate, obtuse, leaf margins nearly entire, costa filling the subula; and the columella is not developed. The two species in the flora grow sympatrically on Mt. Rainier.

SELECTED REFERENCES Crum, H. A. 1987. Some Latin American mosses new to science. Contr. Univ. Mich. Herb. 16: 135--140. Crum, H. A. and L. E. Anderson. 1981. Mosses of Eastern North America. Vol. I. New York. Bowers, F.D. and B.H. Allen. 1990. A new species of Brachydontium (Musci: Seligeriaceae) from Hondorus. Bryologist 93: 346--348. Buck, W.R. and A. Schafer-Verwimp. 1992. Brachydontium notorogenes sp. nov. (Seligeriaceae) from southeastern Brazil. Bryologist 95: 340--342. McIntosh, T. T. and J. R. Spence. Grimmia olympica Britt. (Grimmiaceae) is transferred to Brachydontium (Seligeriaceae). Bryologist 89: 200--202. Stone, I. 1973. A new species of Brachydontium from Australia. J. Bryol. 7: 343--351.

1. Peristome lacking; distal laminal cells mostly isodiametric………..……. 1. Brachydontium olympicum

1. Peristome of 16 teeth; distal laminal cells predominantly short-rhombic

……………………2. Brachydontium trichodes

1. Brachydontium olympicum (E. Britton) T. T. McIntosh & J. R. Spence, Bryologist 89: 200. 1986

Grimmia olympica E. Britton, Bryologist 13: 59. 1910

Stems 2--5 mm. Leaves 1--2.5 mm, distal laminal cells mostly isodiametric, 1:1, with a few cells 2:1 or transversely elongate, areolation somewhat irregular, proximal cells longer. Seta 0.5--2 mm, flexuose when dry. Capsule spherical to short-ovate, 0.4--0.6 mm. Peristome lacking. Spores 6--10 µm.

Moist, acidic boulders; montane, predominantly alpine; B.C.; Alaska, Oreg., Wash.; Japan.

The spherical or short-ovate capsules lacking peristome teeth and the somewhat shorter distal laminal cells distinguish B. olympicum from B. trichodes. This is a circum-North Pacific montane species, which should be sought for in coastal areas of Siberia.

2. Brachydontium trichodes (F. Weber) Milde, Bryol. Siles. 89. 1869

Gymnostomum trichodes F. Weber, Arch. Syst. Nat. 1(1). 124. 1804

Stems 0.6--1.2 mm. Leaves 0.5--2 mm, distal lamina cells irregularly short-rhombic with a few cells quadrate, about (1--)2--3:1, proximal cells longer. Seta 2--2.5 mm, straight and twisted above when dry. Capsule ovate-cylindric, 0.6--0.8 mm. Peristome of 16, very short, truncate teeth. Spores 8--12 µm.

Moist, acidic cliff faces; higher elevations; N.H., N.C., Tenn., Wash.; South America (Colombia); Europe; Asia; Australia.