Incline Distichium Moss

Distichium inclinatum is similar to D. capillaceum and D. hagenii, differing from the former in the inclined, ovoid capsule, shorter stems, more closely set leaves, and larger spores. It differs from the latter primarily by features of the peristome: the peristome teeth of D. hagenii have a basal membrane and the teeth are arranged in eight irregular but separated groups of two teeth each, rather than being evenly spaced as in D. inclinatum and D. capillaceum.

Plants small, 1–2 cm high, olive green or green, somewhat shiny, in dense tufts. Stems erect, sparsely branched, radiculose at base. Leaves distichous, crowded, 2–3 mm long, abruptly narrowed from an erect, oblong-lanceolate, sheathing base to a long, setaceous acumen, the acumina about 1–2 times as long as the sheathing base; margins plane, nearly entire or crenulate above the shoulder; costa flat, filling almost the entire subula, ending in an awn; upper cells quadrate to short-rectangular, 7–10 µm × 3–7 µm; basal cells linear-rectangular, 35–78 µm × 3–4 µm, thin-walled. Dioicous. Perichaetial leaves similar to the upper stem leaves, slightly larger. Setae straight, reddish brown, 1.0–1.5 cm long; capsules inclined, asymmetric, oblong-ovoid, ca. 2.0 mm × 0.7 mm; opercula short conic-rostrate; annuli differentiated; peristome teeth lanceolate, irregularly 2–3-divided nearly to the base, perforated, obliquely striolate. Spores 39–47 µm in diameter, yellowish green, minutely papillose.

Stems to ca. 3 cm, mostly shorter. Sexual condition autoicous. Seta to 2 cm, straight to somewhat flexuose, smooth, red or reddish brown, occasionally yellowish brown. Capsule brown, 1-1.5 mm, inclined, ovoid, becoming ± wrinkled when dry; operculum to 0.3 mm; peristome evenly spaced, lanceolate, divided nearly to the base into 2(-3) filaments, smooth to papillose or sometimes ± striolate. Spores densely and finely papillose, occasionally roughened, 30-45(-48) µm.

Distribution: China, India, Central Asia, Caucasus, Europe, North America, and North Africa.

Habitat: on soil or rocks in alpine regions.

Cynontodium inclinatum Hedwig, Sp. Musc. Frond., 58. 1801