Rosulabryum rubens (Mitt.) J.R. Spence

Spence, John R., 2021, Studies in Austral Bryaceae (Bryopsida). III. A Preliminary Account with Keys to Rosulabryum J. R. Spence in Chile, PhytoKeys 185, pp. 87-98 : 87

11. Rosulabryum rubens (Mitt.) J.R. Spence

Remarks.

A rare species generally found in disturbed habitats, especially on disturbed soil and concrete, and possibly introduced from the northern hemisphere. There is only one record from Chile in disturbed habitats in the capitol Santiago ( Ochi and Mahu 1988, at HO, not seen!). It is characterized by its dioicous sexual condition, rosulate to somewhat evenly foliate stems, small leaves that are irregularly contorted when dry, costa excurrent into a medium-length awn, a narrow but usually distinct limbidium, and serrulate distal leaf margins. The plants are often reddish-tinged. The rhizoidal tubers are diagnostic; predominantly red, with strongly protuberant cell walls, from 100-280 µm in diameter, often arising from lower leaf axils or at the base of the stem on short rhizoids. The species has a scattered world-wide temperate distribution (Illustrations: Crundwell and Nyholm 1964: 630, as Bryum rubens ; Lüth 2019: 938 as Ptychostomum rubens ; Holyoak 2021: 232, as P. rubens ).