Isopterygium subbrevisetum Brotherus 1908

Isopterygium subbrevisetum

Isopterygium subbrevisetum (Hampe) Broth., Nat. Pflanzenfam. 1(3): 1081. 1908. Hypnum subbrevisetum Hampe, Vidensk. Meddel. Dansk Naturhist. Foren. Kjøbenhavn ser. 3, 6: 165. 1875. Type: Brazil. Vicinity of Rio de Janeiro, Glaziou 6356 (holotype: BM!; isotype: H!).

Taxicaulis subtenerrimus Müll. Hal., Hedwigia 37: 253. 1895; Isopterygium subtenerrimum (Müll. Hal.) Paris, Index Bryol. Suppl. 221. 1900. Type: Jamaica. Bethabara, Wullschlägel s.n. (isotype: NY!).

Isopterygium pusillum Renauld & Cardot, Bull. Soc. Roy. Bot. Belgique 41(1): 107. 1905. Type: Puerto Rico. 1900, Heller 4495 (holotype: PC!; isotype: NY!).

Isopterygium tenerrimum Renauld & Cardot, Bull. Soc. Roy. Bot. Belgique 41(1): 107. 1905. nom. nud.

Plants in thin to dense mats, light green to yellowish green. Stems up to 0.8 cm long, 1.0–1.7 mm wide, irregularly and freely branched. Asexual reproductive bodies rarely present on stems, uniseriate, filamentous, multicellular, simple or branched, green or brown, cells papillose. Leaves 0.5–1.0 mm long, 0.2–0.3 mm wide, somewhat rigid, distant, somewhat concave, wide-spreading to squarrose, smooth, scarcely changed when dry, lanceolate, symmetric, acuminate; margins plane or often erect below, entire to minutely serrulate; costa none or sometimes weak, short and double; median cells 66–99 × 5–7 μm, smooth; alar cells quadrate to short-rectangular, in small groups with 2–4 cells on margins. Autoicous. Setae 0.5–1.0 cm long, yellow to orange; capsules 0.5–1.0 mm long, inclined, ovoid to ellipsoid, contracted below the mouth when dry; operculum short-rostrate; peristome teeth up to 0.2 mm long. Spores 9–14 μm in diameter.

Distribution and ecology: West Indies, Belize, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Venezuela, Surinam, French Guiana, Ecuador, Peru, and Brazil (Figures 14, 15); on tree trunks, stumps, rotten logs, vines, humus, earth banks, and occasionally limestone and serpentine rock in humid or wet forests, occurring from 0 to 1940 m.

Discussion: The general aspect of this species is striking because of its lanceolate, slightly concave, rigid, distant, wide-spreading to squarrose leaves. The narrow, lanceolate leaves and the phyllotaxy separate Isopterygium subbrevisetum from the other Latin American species. The plants are otherwise most similar to I. tenerum, but that species has leaves somewhat broader (0.2–0.5 mm wide) and longer (0.7–1.2 mm long).

The leaf morphology and the phyllotaxy of this species may not seem very important until one considers the North American plants of Isopterygium tenerum. Among the hundreds of North American plants of Isopterygium that the senior author studied (Ireland, 1969), none approached the distinctive leaf morphology and the phyllotaxy of I. subbrevisetum.

Selected specimens examined: BELIZE. Cayo: Along Raspaculo Branch above confluence with Monkey Tail Branch, 480–720 m, Allen 18365 (MO). HONDURAS. Olancho: Río de Camote, 3 km N of La Union, 12 km below La Muralla, 800 m, 15°02'N, 86°42'W, Allen 12890 (MO). NICARAGUA. (Dept. Unknown) Sandy Bay, 11 Dec 1920, Hamilton s.n. (NY). COSTA RICA. Alajuela: San Pedro de San Ramon, Brenes 19, 20 (NY), 99 (FH, NY). Heredia: Finca La Selva, ˜11 km S of Puerto Viejo, Koch 4938 (MICH); Selva Biological Station, at confluence of Río Sarapiquí and Río Puerto Viejo, 50–100 m, 10°26'N, 84°01'W, Grayum 9634, 9990, 9999 (MO). Limón: Along Río Tortuguero, ˜3 km SW of village of Tortuguero, Steere CR-180, CR-195 (NY); 0.8 km SE of Guapiles on Linnea Vieja, Diamantes Rubber Station, 150 m, Svihla 3027a (FH). (Dept. Unknown) Vicinity of La Palma, 1450–1550 m, Maxon 371 (NY). PANAMA. Coclé: Near El Valle de Anton, ˜550 m, Brako 8457 (NY). Darién: Cerro de Garagará, Sambu basin, southern Darien, 500–974 m, Pittier 5633 (NY). Panamá: Isla de Barro Colorado, Arrocha 204 (NY), 204a (PMA); Barro Colorado Is., Panama Canal, Gatun Lake, Robbins 8 (CANM, FH); Quebrada Culebra, 70–75 m, Dodge & Allen 17087 (MO); El Llano–Carti road, 16 km from Interamerican Hwy., near El Llano, 330 m, Croat 33786 (MO). San Blas: 23 km from Interamerican Hwy. on El Llano–Carti Road, Allen 4960 (H, MO, NY), 4968 (MEXU, MO); El Llano–Carti road, 19 km from Interamerican Hwy., 350 m, de Nevers 4108 (MO). CUBA. Habana: Vicinity of Santiago de las Vegas, Baker 691 (NY). Las Villas: Santa Clara, S slope of Sierra de los Helechales, Banao Mts., León & Clement 5545 (NY); Santa Clara, Sierra de Cantu, León & Clement 5476 (MICH, US); Santa Clara, Trinidad Mts., Britton 4879 (CANM), 5380 (CANM, NY). Oriente: Sierra Maestra, Loma del Gato, Clemente 14538 (NY); Sierra Maestra, Cordillera de la Gran Piedra, 1250 m, Lopéz 68 (CANM); Sierra Maestra, Gran Piedra, near Santiago de Cuba, Imshaug 25063 (CANM, MICH); Moa region, banks of the Río Yagrumaje, SW of Punta Gorda, Webster 810 (CANM); Sierra de Nipe, foothills at the Río Guaro, ˜10 km SW of Mayari, Webster 873 (CANM); Loma San Juan, 900 m, Hioram 11812 (MO); Loma San Juan, 850 m, Hioram 11618 (MICH). Santiago: Slopes and summit of El Yunque, near Baracoa, 305–610 m, Pollard & Palmer 104 (MO); El Yunque Mt., Baracoa, Underwood & Earle 1054 (CANM); base of El Yunque Mt., Baracoa, Underwood & Earle 320 (CANM), 1289 (CANM, NY); 1–2 km W of La Gran Piedra, Shaw 5261 (NY). La Prenda, Guantanamo, Hioram 18173 (MO). JAMAICA. Manchester: Marshall’s Pen, 4.8 km WNW of Mandeville, 700 m, Crosby 13816 (NY); 4.3 km N of Plowden Hill, 500 m, Crosby 13847 (NY); 1.6 km from Balaclava, Orcutt 816 (MICH); 0.8 km NE of Spur Tree, 790 m, Webster 5257a (CANM); Shooters Hill, 2.4–3.2 km S of Mizpah, 430 m, Farr 831, 832 (CANM). Portland: E slope of John Crow Mts., ˜2.4 km SW of Ecclesdown, 460 m, Webster 5179 (CANM); John Crow Mts., ˜2 km SW of Ecclesdown, 460–610 m, Webster 5588 (CANM); John Crow Mts., SW of Ecclesdown, 305–610 m, Welch 17542, 17707 (CANM); between 0.8 and 2.4 km SW of Ecclesdown, Powell & Welch 514 (CANM). St. Ann: Reynolds Mines area, near Lydford, Howard & Proctor 14032 (CANM). St. Andrew: Summit of Coopers Hill, 775 m, Farr 1441 (CANM); near Hermitage Dam, ˜610 m, Proctor 17409 (CANM); Second Breakfast Spring, near Mt. Airy, ˜915 m, Farr 724 (CANM). St. Thomas: Mountain trail between House Hill and Cuna Cuna Gap, 550–725 m, Maxon 8901 (BM); Cuna Cuna area, 610–760 m, Farr 1566 (CANM); Farm Hill, 1220 m, Proctor 9679 (CANM); N side of Cuna Cuna Gap, Britton 968 (MICH, NY); Cuna Cuna Gap, 610 m, Britton 1251 (NY); Bath Fountain, ˜150 m, Farr 1320 (CANM); Corn Puss Gap and vicinity, ˜14 km N of Bath, on trail to Port Antonio, 550 m, Crosby 13653 (NY); Bath, trail N from Bath Fountain Hotel along Sulphur River, ˜90 m, Crosby 13615 (NY). Trelawny: Windsor estate, ˜120 m, Powell 335 (CANM); Blue Mts., Hampstead, ˜1115 m, Jäderholm 118 (H). HAITI. Canape Verte, above Port-au-Prince, Mackaness 285 (MICH). Dept. de la Grand’anse, Massif de la Hotte, along small stream entering Rivière Glace at junction of road from Beaumont to Camp Perrin, 41 km S of Roseaux, 710 m, Buck 9060 (NY); Guimbi Galata, Mornes des Commissaires, 1800 m, Holdridge 1800 (MICH). Nord: Vicinity of Pilate, ˜325 m, Leonard 9594 (CANM, FH, US). Ouest: Above road NW of Forêt des Pins, Imshaug & Wetmore 22888 (CANM, MSC). Sud’est: Massif de la Selle, 5 km E of Seguin on road to Mare Rouge, 1780 m, Buck 9478 (NY); Osman, Morne la Selle, 1650 m, Holdridge 3008a, 3009, 3014 (MICH). DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. Independencia: Sierra de Baoruco, 30.5 km S of Puerto Escondito, 1940 m, Buck 14661 (NY). Santo Domingo: Vicinity of Colonia Ramfis, 400–500 m, Allard 16290 (NY, US); vicinity of Ciudad Trujillo, 0–25 m, Allard 16116 (NY). Pedernales: Las Abejas, ˜40 km N along road from Cabo Rojo from junction of road from Oviedo to Pedernales, 1190 m, Reese 14959 (NY); 55 km N of port of Cabo Rojo on Alcoa road, 1100 m, Steere 22854 (NY). La Vega: La Culata, 9 km NNW of Constanza, 1280 m, Buck 5356 (NY); La Cumbra, road between Constanza and Jarabacoa, 1220 m, Allard 16508a (NY); Loma Compana, ˜1036 m, Allard 18654 (NY); vicinity of Piedra Blanca, 200–500 m, Allard 18000d (NY); between Loma La Sal and Loma La Golondrina, 945 m, Zanoni et al. 19938A, 19938M (MO). Dajabon: Cañada Tirolis, 1 km S of Villa Anacaona, 400 m, Buck 4837 (NY); along road at Los Amaceyes, 565 m, Imshaug & Wetmore 3401 (MSC, NY). PUERTO RICO. Sierra de Yabucoa, 500 m, Britton et al. 6313 (NY). Ponce Dist., above Villalba, Doña Juana Recreation Area, 800–1000 m, Buck 15984 (NY); Guaraguao, Pagán 66 (MICH, MO). Mountain between Guayama and Cayey, 700–900 m, Britton et al. 6590 (NY). Near Mayagüez, Heller 4495 (F, MICH). Western end of Laguna Tortuguero, Britton & Brown 6855 (MO, NY). Vicinity of Mayagüez, Britton & Marble 610 (NY). Santa Rosa, Jayuya, Pagán 299 (MICH, MO). La Torrecilla, Barranquitas, Steere 4546 (FH, MICH, MO), 4588, 4602, 4625, 4648 (MICH, MO), 4664, 4667 (MICH). Ridge above Jajome Alto, Cayey–Guayama Road, Steere 5115 (MICH, MO). Ridge at Km 15, Maricao-Sabana Grande Road, Steere 5778 (MICH, MO). Just E of Cidra, Steere 6347 (MICH), 6379 (MICH, MO). Above Toro Negro Reservoir, S of Jayuya, Steere 6878 (MICH, MO). Mt. Guilarte, W of Adjuntae, Steere 7191 (MICH, MO). Guavate Purchase Unit, Sierra de Cayey, Steere 4820 (FH, MICH), 4838, 4858 (MICH), 6754 (MICH, MO), 6762 (MICH). Mt. Cenote, Pagán 1 (MO), 91, 124 (MICH). Arroyo de los Corchos, between Adjuntas and Jajuya, 800–900 m, Britton 5334a (MICH). Monte Torrecilla, 900–1100 m, Britton et al. 5696 (NY), 5566 (MICH). Río Juan Diego, N slope of Sierra de Luquillo, Steere 6957 (MICH). NW slopes of Sierra de Luquillo, above Verde, Steere 4987 (MICH). Between Cayey and Caguas, Britton 5704 (NY). Cerro de la Punta, S of Jayuya, Steere 6229 (MICH, NY). Mt. El Toro, trail to Ciánaga Alta, Sierra de Luquillo, Steere 6461 (MICH). Toro Negro Unit, Río Doña Juana, N of Villalba, Steere 6015 (MICH, NY, US). 22.5 km S of San Juan, Heller 696 (MICH). Río Sabana, Sierra de Luquillo, S from Luquillo, Steere 5190 (MICH). Above upper Río de Marcao, Steere 5666 (MICH). Vieques Is., Pagán 101 (MICH). LEEWARD ISLANDS. Montserrat: Chauers Mtn., 610–760 m, Shafer 806 (CANM, NY); Gagrs Mtn., 460–760 m, Shafer 825 (CANM, NY). Tortola: N side of Tortola, Allen & Harter 3332 (MO). WINDWARD ISLANDS. Martinique: Bois de la Capote, Stehle 4002 (NY). Grenada: Grand Etang, 760 m, Howard 264 (FH). COLOMBIA. Nariño: Mpio. Tumaco, Resguardo Indigena de El Hojal, Alrededores, 245 m, 01°19'N, 78°30'W, Ramírez P. et al. 9808 (MO). VENEZUELA. Bolívar: Cerro Sarisariñama, Sima Mayor, 1020 m, Buck & Brewer 15602A, 15619B (NY). TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO. Trinidad: Caura R. Valley, Britton et al, 1224 (NY). Siparia, 30 m, Simmonds 517 (CANM). Tobago: Murray’s Land, Cardiff Road, Broadway 4292 (CANM). SURINAM. Brokopondo: Brownsberg, near trail to Witti Creek, ˜500 m, Florschütz-de Waard & Zielman 5036A (U); Brownsberg, 450 m, Gradstein 4670 (U). Sipaliwini: Blanche Marie Valley, 04°44'N, 56°53'W, 100 m, Muñoz 98-26b (MO). FRENCH GUIANA. Commune de Saül, Mont Galbao, summit NW peak, ˜700 m, 03°36'N, 53°16'W, Buck 33294, 33306 (NY); NE of Saül, summit S of Pic Matécho, 13 km N of Saut Nais, 590 m, Cremers 6291 (U). ECUADOR. Galapagos Iss., Isla Santa Cruz, around Media Luna, 600–650 m, Gradstein & Weber M-37 (F); Isabela, S slope of Volcán Alcedo, van der Werff 1477 (U). PERU. Santa Elena, upper Amazon, Tingo Maria, Morrow 9584 (FH). BRAZIL. Acre: Mpio. Sena Madureira, Basin of Rio Purus, Rio Macanã, Colocação Castanheira, 09°42'S, 69°07'W, Daly et al. 8134 (NY). Amazonas: Along the Rio Negro, along BR 307, N from São Gabriel de Cachoeira to Cucuí, at Km 41, Buck 2598 (NY); vicinity of Manaus, along BR 174 at Km 30, Buck et al. 1751 (CANM, NY); along the Rio Uatumã, along road to Balbina Dam project from Manaus-Caracarai Road (BR 174), Buck 2662 (CANM, NY). Bahia: Mpio. Ilhéus, Centro de Pesquisas do Cacau, Km 22 on BR 415 between Ilhéus and Itabuna, 50 m, ˜14°50'S, 39°13'W, Vital & Buck 20190 (NY); Serra da Agua de Rega, ˜24 km N of Seabra, road to Agua de Rega, 1000 m, Irwin et al. 31095 (CANM). Minas Gerais: Parque Nacional do Caparaó, Vale Verde, ˜1200 m, 20°30'S, 41°40'W, Buck 26942 (NY); Vicosa, Mexia 4499-a (FH); Fazenda Bom Destino, Bandeira 277 (NY). Paraná: Mpio. Foz do Iguaçu, Parque Nacional do Iguaçu, 100–200 m, 25°40'S, 54°25'W, Vital & Buck 11960 (NY). Rio de Janeiro: Parque Nacional do Itatiaia, vicinity of Pousada do Elefante, ˜22°25'S, 44°36'W, Vital & Buck 20040 (NY); Petropolis, Pedreira da Quitandinha, Bandeira 191 (NY). Roraima: Bonfim, Santiago 14332 (NY). Santa Catarina: Without locality, Ule 970 (H); Matta Hoffman, Brusque, 50 m, Reitz 3144 (NY). São Paulo: Mpio. Guapiara, Serra Paranapiacaba, Fazenda Intervales, slopes of Morro do Mirante, 800–1000 m, ˜24°16'S, 48°25'W, Vital & Buck 20495 (NY); Mpio. Santo André, slopes of Paranapiacaba, ˜850 m, 23°47'S, 47°17'W, Vital & Buck 20609 (NY); Sierra de São Pedro, São Pedro, 680 m, Schäfer-Verwimp & Verwimp 9526 (NY); near Alto da Serra, May 1901, 900 m, Schiffner (BM); Mairinque, ˜75 km W of São Paulo, Porta do Sol, Schäfer-Verwimp 8268 (CANM); Bauru, Vital 11125 (CANM).