2. Blindia Bruch & Schimper, Bryol. Europ. 2: 17. 1846.
[For J. J. Blind, pastor at Münster, Germany, 1834-1848]
Dale H. Vitt
Plants of acidic rock, blackish. Alar cells colored and inflated. Sexual condition dioicous. Capsule smooth; annulus ill-formed; peristome teeth smooth. Calyptra cucullate.
Species 15 (1 in the flora): North America, Central America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Atlantic Islands (Iceland).
Blindia is widespread in North America, Europe and Iceland, and is disjunct where it is found in the rest of the world.
Blindia is a small genus of acrocarpous, haplolepideous mosses, characteristically found on moist acidic rock substrates. Its peristome is defined by having the outer layer thicker than the inner and these are fused to form a single row of 16 papillose or smooth teeth. The significant gametophytic features are well-developed alar cells, smooth distal leaf cells, and subulate leaves, along with rheophytic or hygrophytic habitats.
SELECTED REFERENCE
Bartlett, J. K. and D. H. Vitt. 1986. A survey of species in the genus Blindia (Bryopsida, Selegeriaceae). New Zealand J. Bot. 24: 203-246.
