Afzel's Calymperes Moss

In the flora area, Calymperes afzelii occurs sparingly in peninsular Florida, but it is weedy in other parts of its wide range. It is somewhat similar to C. erosum but easily distinguished by the smooth distal adaxial cells of its cancellinae, which are distally acute, and by its gemmae borne only on the adaxial surface of the leaf apex.

Calymperes afzelii is easy to recognize by its prominent teniolae, obscure upper laminal cells, and the peculiar extension of the costa in gemmiferous leaves as described above. It is often needlessly confused with C. erosum; see discussion under that species for distinctions. Calymperes tahitense is a close relative of C. afzelii, but the two do not seem to intergrade in China. See discussion under C. tahitense for distinctions.

Plants gregarious or tufted, dark-green to yellowish brown, uncinate-curved at tips when dry, to 10 mm. Leaves dimorphic, the vegetative 3-4 mm; distal lamina lanceolate; margins thickened and toothed distally; costa in cross section showing ad- and abaxial bands of stereid cells; medial cells obscure, 5-6 µm, bulging adaxially, minutely papillose abaxially; teniolae prominent at leaf shoulders and above; cancellinae ending in acute angles distally, adaxial cells smooth distally; gemmiferous leaves with constricted apices consisting of the costa with narrowly revolute marginal laminae, bearing gemmae only on adaxial surface of apex.

Plants dark green, sometimes forked, in low dull tufts and cushions. Stems evident; rhizoids glossy dark red. Leaves essentially monomorphic, vegetative leaves grading into gemmiferous leaves, contorted-curled when dry, bases often conspicuous, with metallic gloss, erect-spreading and straight when wet, oblong-lanceolate to acuminate above broader base, to 4–5 mm long; axillary hairs inconspicuous; costa percurrent, in gemmiferous leaves protruding beyond expanded portion of upper laminae, with narrow wings of laminae revolute along its flanks; cells of upper laminae small, obscure, isodiametric, nearly smooth to papillose abaxially, bulging to mammillose-papillose adaxially; margins thickened and toothed distally; teniolae conspicuous; cancellinae typically acute distally, their distal cells plane, sharply and evenly demarcated from adjacent green cells of upper laminae; gemmae common, borne on adaxial tips of costa, gemma receptacle sometimes evident. Sporophytes not seen.

Distribution: pantropical.

Habitat: fairly common at low to moderate elevations on rocks, tree trunks and bases, rarely on soil; shaded habitats in forests along streams and rivers; 170–1250 m.

Calymperes brittoniae Bescherelle; C. donnellii Austin