Compilation
Ephemerum serratum

16 Images see all

Previous
Next

Name

Identification
Ephemerum serratum (Schreb. ex Hedw.) Hampe [family EPHEMERACEAE ] (stored under name); Ephemerum serratum (Schimp.) Jur. [family EPHEMERACEAE ] Ephemerum rutheanum Schimp. [family EPHEMERACEAE ]
Related name
  • Ephemerum rutheanum
  • Ephemerum serratum

Flora

Entry for Ephemerum serratum (Hedwig) Hampe [family ]
Herbarium
Flora of North America (FNA)
Collection
Flora of North America
Resource Type
Reference Sources
Entry From
Flora of North America, Vol 27,
Names
Ephemerum serratum (Hedwig) Hampe [family ], Flora, 20: 285. 1837,
Phascum serratum Hedwig [family ], Sp. Musc. Frond., 23. 1801
Ephemerum serratum var. minutissimum (Lindberg) Grout [family ]
Information
Plants less than 2 mm, gregarious in persistent matted protonemata. Leaves linear-lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, sometimes narrowed from distinct shoulders, 1–2.4 × 0.17–0.3 mm; margins usually coarsely and irregularly serrate distal to the proximal third, often with spines, but varying to scarcely serrate; apex tapering gradually to a sharply pointed acumen, absent papillae; costa usually absent, but sometimes suggested by a few thick-walled cells or an obscure double layer of undifferentiated cells, smooth; areolation lax proximally and somewhat firm distally; median laminal cells in vertical rows, smooth; distal laminal cells smooth. Capsule with columella resorbed before meiosis; stomates only at the base. Spores spherical or reniform, 55–106 × 27–75 µm.
Phenology
Capsules mature year around, mostly in autumn.
Altitude range
low to moderate elevations (5–1200 m);
Distribution
South America (Brazil)Europe (Sardinia)Asia (China)Africa (South Africa)USA Ala.USA Calif.USA Conn.USA Fla.USA Ind.USA Ky.USA La.USA MaineUSA Md.USA Mass.USA Miss.USA Mo.USA N.H.USA N.J.USA N.Y.USA N.C.USA OhioUSA Oreg.USA Pa.USA S.C.USA Tenn.USA Tex.USA Va.USA W.Va.USA Wis.USA Pacific Islands (New Zealand).Canada N.B.Canada N.W.T.Canada N.S.Canada Ont.Canada Que.Canada Sask.
Discussion
The leaf margins in Ephemerum serratum vary markedly, from barely serrate to long spinose. In general, plants from eastern North America tend to be more strongly serrate than plants from California and Oregon, although barely serrate plants from the east as well as distinctly serrate plants from the west have been seen. Mature capsules frequently persist with only the remnants of leaves remaining, the distal portions of the leaves apparently eroded away. Rarely, thick-walled, elongate, brown structures occur on the protonemata and they may serve as diaspores.

Related Materials