Bryocrumia Moss

Description

Plants forming cushions, green to reddish distally, blackish green to iridescent tan proximally. Stems to 3 mm, branching often; hyalodermis absent, sclerodermis absent, central strand absent or very weak; axillary hairs ca. 6 cells in length, proximal 1-2 cells yellowish. Leaves appressed, weakly contorted when dry, spreading when moist; spathulate, adaxial surface flat, shallowly channeled along costa, to 4 mm; base scarcely differentiated in shape, proximal margins bordered by a few rows of long-rectangular cells; margins recurved along 1 or both margins in the proximal 1/2, entire, bordered by ca. 6 rows of enlarged, rounded rhomboid to rectangular cells, except the marginal row; apex broadly acute to rounded acute, usually broadly apiculate; costa percurrent or ending 1-2 cells below the apex, adaxial outgrowths absent, adaxial cells elongate in 5-6 rows, transverse section semicircular, adaxial epidermis present, adaxial stereid band absent, guide cells 3-4 in 1 layer, hydroid strand absent, abaxial stereid band present, strong, semicircular in section, abaxial epidermis weakly developed; basal cells differentiated medially, inflated-rectangular, slightly wider than the distal cells, 3-5:1, walls of basal cells thin, brown; distal medial cells hexagonal to shortly rectangular, 13-20 -m wide, 1-2:1, 1-stratose; papillae small, simple to 2-fid, 8-12 per lumen, scattered, cell walls thin, weakly convex on both sides. Specialized asexual reproduction absent. Sexual condition dioicous. Perichaetia terminal, interior leaves not sheathing, little different from cauline leaves. Seta ca. 1.4 mm. Capsule stegocarpous, theca cylindric, 2.5-3 mm, annulus of ca. 2 rows vesiculose cells; operculum conic, 0.8-1.1 mm; peristome teeth 16, cleft to near base into two branches, linear, rami much perforated and anastomosing, twisted very weakly counterclockwise, teeth ca. 200 -m. Calyptra cucullate. Spores ca. 15-18 -m. Laminal KOH color reaction reddish orange.