Rhacopilum tomentosum

Rhacopilum tomentosum

Rhacopilum tomentosum (Hedw.) Brid., Bryol. Univ. 2:719, 1827.

Hypnum tomentosum Hedw., Sp. Musc. 240, 1801. [Original material: Hispaniola, coll. Swartz, 1783–1787.]

Hypnum ornithopodioides Brid., Musc. Rec. 2(2):124, 1801. [Original material: Patagonia.]

Rhacopilum latistipulatum Card., Rev. Bryol. 38:41, 1911. [Original material: Esperanza, Puebla, Mexico, coll. Purpus n. 4295, 1908; Boca del Monte, coll. Purpus n. 4280, 1909.]

Freely branching stems 1–3 cm long. Lateral leaves 1.5–2.0 mm long, 0.5 mm wide, broadly ovate-lanceolate, rather short-acute above with short- to rather long-excurrent costa, distal margin serrulate to coarsely serrate; dorsal leaves usually smaller, ca. 1.0 mm long, 0.4 mm wide, more broadly ovate and cordate at base, with straighter tapering distal margins, less serrulate, costa longer-excurrent. Cells of all laminae mostly broadly oval, 12 μm wide, 15–25 μm long, with scattered subquadrate cells 10 μm in diameter, most cells arranged in definite longitudinal and oblique rows; only a few inner basal cells more elongate with more thickened porose walls. Autoicous. Setae 1.5–3.0 cm long, smooth. Capsule urn 3–5 mm long.

MAS AFUERA: Q. Casas, ca. 200 m, Sk. 326, M179 (S), H. & E. 205, 571 part; Q. óvaio, Sk. M115 (S).

MAS A TIERRA: Valle Colonial, Q. Seca, 435 m, Sk. 321 (S); Cumberland Bay, El Pangal, Sk. M52 part (S); C. B., Cave 6, Sk. M267 (S); C. B., Cave 8, Sk. M270 (S); near Cumberland Bay, K. 336/1 part (B); trail to Camote, 1400 ft, M. 9619.

The species is distributed throughout tropical and subtropical America. Some treatments extend the range into Africa but the most recent treatment of African species (Potier de la Varde, 1936) does not mention Rhacopilum tomentosum. The species has not been reported previously from Juan Fernandez.