八齿藓

Plants small, 5–10 mm high, grayish green, somewhat glossy, in loose or dense tufts and cushions. Stems short, sparsely branched; central strand absent. Leaves erect-patent to curved spreading, 4–6 mm long, flattened, strap-shaped to ligulate from an oblong-ovate base, apiculate at the apex; hyaline lamina cells small, appearing only on two sides of costa at the leaf base; margins entire, with minute serration at the leaf apex; costa broad and thick, filling almost the entire upper lamina, convex on abaxial side in cross section, costal leucocysts 2–5 layers on adaxial side, 1–4 layers on abaxial side, supporting a nearly centrally positioned chlorocyst layer, chlorocysts in cross section triangular in the upper parts of leaves, quadrangular at the leaf base. Autoicous. Setae ca. 4 mm long, yellow, smooth; capsules erect, cylindrical; peristome teeth 8, yellowish, lanceolate with a broad base, vertically striate; opercula long rostrate, with an oblique beak. Calyptrae cucullate, smooth, entire at the base. Spores not seen.

Type. Jamaica: Swartz s.n.

Chinese specimens examined: GUANGDONG: Zhaoqing City, Dinghu Shan (Mt.), Crosby 15239, 15260 (MO), Magill et al. 8104 (MO), H. Wu B75, B116 (IBSC), B140 (MO); Guangzhou City, Luogong, P.-J. Lin 162 (IBSC), Levine 1715 (MO). GUANGXI: Shang-si Co., P.-J. Lin et al. 1815, 1893 (IBSC). HAINAN: Chang-jiang Co., Redfearn 35727, 35878 (MO); Diaoluo Shan (Mt.), P.-Z. Zheng 352 (IBSC); Jianfengling, P.-C. Chen et al. 34, 262 (IBSC, PE); Le-dong Co., Redfearn 35965 (MO); Wuzhi Shan (Mt.), P.-J. Lin et al. 2526 (IBSC). HONG KONG: Tai Mo Shan (Mt.), C.-H. Gao & But 703, 26148 (SHM); Victoria Mt., Redfearn 33438 (MO). TAIWAN: Jia-yi Co., C.-K. Wang 0438 (NICH); Nan-tou Co., M.-J. Lai 2276 (MO), S.-H. Lin s.n. [Bryophyte of Taiwan Exsiccatae 134]. YUNNAN: Fu-hai Co., Q.-W. Wang 8726, 8851 (IBSC, PE); He-kou Co., W.-M. Zhu 10 (YUKU); Jing-hong Co., Crosby 15021, 15162 (MO), Magill et al. 7720, 8101 (MO), Redfearn et al. 34070, 34267 (MO); Jin-ping Co., W.-M. Zhu 564 (IBSC, YUKU); Liang-he Co., X.-J. Li 77-386 (KUN, IBSC); Lu-xi Co., X.-J. Li 77-25 (KUN, IBSC); Meng-hai Co., Crosby 15129 (MO), Magill et al. 7907, 7956 (MO), Redfearn 34129 (MO), Q.-W. Wang 8580, 8652 (IBSC, PE); Meng-la Co., Crosby 14902 (MO), Magill et al. 7660 (MO), Redfearn et al. 33988 (MO); Xishuangbanna, W.-X. Xu 5741, 11375 (IBSC, YUKU); Zhen-kang Co., Q.-W. Wang 7824 (IBSC, PE); Zhen-yue Co., Q.-W. Wang 10035, 10085 (IBSC, PE).

Habitat: on tree trunks; Distribution: China, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malesia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Australia, Africa, and North, Central, and South America. The species is nearly pantropical, with its ranges extending to temperate regions in North America.

Illustrations: C. Gao (ed.) 1994 (Pl. 148, figs. 10–13).