The Bryologist 108(1), pp. 129 130 Copyright ᭧ 2005 by the American Bryological and Lichenological Society, Inc.

Molendoa ogalalensis (, ) New to Mexico

RICHARD H. ZANDER Missouri Botanical Garden, P.O. Box 299, St. Louis, MO 63166-0299, U.S.A. e-mail: [email protected]

Abstract. The rare, North American, high plains , Molendoa ogalalensis (G. L. Smith) R. H. Zander, is newly recorded for stations in Sonora, Mexico.

Keywords. Bryophyta, high plains, Kansas, Mexico, Molendoa, Ozobryum.

Molendoa ogalalensis (G. L. Smith) R. H. Zan- were found on one specimen (Richards et al. 710 ) der was relatively recently (Smith Merrill 1992) de- located near the base of the stem among dense scribed from four stations in the high plains in leaves from the previous growing season buried in south-central Nebraska and north-central Kansas. It the soil, but no perigonia or sporophytic structures occurred there on cemented soil in a ``gently roll- were found. ing, treeless plain with eroded rock outcrops (mor- The distinctive appearance of the upper lamina tarbeds) exposed in low bluffs bordering the prin- of these collections, and variation in characters cipal stream valleys ...''.Itwasoriginally the ge- that also vary in M. sendtneriana (Zander 1977), neritype of Ozobryum G. L. Smith, but Zander make best their identi®cation as M. ogalalensis, (1993) felt that genus was insuf®ciently distin- rather than the description of a new species. Mo- guished from Molendoa Lindb., and transferred the lendoa ogalalensis is described and illustrated by species to that genus. Smith Merrill (1992) and Zander (2001). All As a species, M. ogalalensis, at least the high Mexican specimens were originally identi®ed as plains populations, is rather distinct, and dif®cult to Anoectangium arizonicum E. B. Bartram; the mistake. Zander (1977), in a treatment of Pleurow- type specimen of that species was re-examined eisieae in Middle America, puzzled over Mexican and its synonymy with Gymnostomum aeruginos- specimens that seemed somewhat different from M. um Smith veri®ed. The Mexican habitat and sub- sendtneriana (Bruch & Schimper) Limpr., but as- strate was given as dry soil, in a ravine. The soil signed them to that species, with a note as to their at the base of the effervesces in dilute HCl, different morphology. Subsequent re-examination and is thus basic. of the relevant specimens in the course of study for the Flora of North America indicated that these Specimens examined.ÐMEXICO.SONORA. 4.8 km S of were morphologically distinctive variants of M. Nacozari, Richards, Drouet & Lockhart 706 (FH), 710 ogalalensis, intermediate in some respects with M. (FH), 1.6 km N of JeÂcori, 719 (FH). U.S.A. KANSAS. Raw- sendtneriana. lins Co., 22 km SE of Atwood, 39Њ 42Ј N, 100Њ48Ј W, Merrill 12901 (MO); Decatur Co., 4.8 km N and 25.6 km The Mexican material of M. ogalalensis differs W of Dresden, Merrill 12888 (NY), 4.8 km N and 25.6 km from the high plains morphotype in having some- W of Dresden, Wranosky 62 (MICH±isotype of Ozobryum what more lax stems; the stem sclerodermis slightly ogalalense). NEBRASKA. Hitchcock Co. 17.6 km NW of more strongly thick-walled; distant, broadly elliptic, Herndon, 40Њ03Ј N, 100Њ52Ј W, Merrill 12919 (MICH, MO). almost spathulate leaves (not long-ovate) that are entirely unistratose (not bistratose or occasionally tristratose in large patches); and the laminal papil- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS lae 1(±2) over each lumen (not entirely single ex- I appreciate the loan of specimens from the curators of cept in Richards et al. 719 ). The Mexican speci- the Farlow Herbarium (FH). mens match high plains collections in important re- spects, including a negative reaction to 2% KOH LITERATURE CITED solution; laminal section showing super®cial walls about as thick as the internal walls (the super®cial SMITH MERRILL, G. L. 1992. Ozobryum ogalalense (Pot- walls are thicker in M. sendtneriana); bulging up- tiaceae), a new moss genus and species from the American Great Plains. Novon 2: 255±258. per laminal cells with much thickened, cap-like pa- ZANDER, R. H. 1977. The tribe Pleuroweisieae (Pottiaceae, pillae; costa ending several cells below the apex, Musci) in Middle America. THE BRYOLOGIST 80: 233± with a single, small stereid band. Lateral perichaetia 269.

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ÐÐÐ. 1993. Genera of the Pottiaceae: of Harsh Garden Web Site. http://ridgwaydb.mobot.org/bfna/v1/ Environments. Bulletin of the Buffalo Society of Nat- PottMolendoa.htm August 12, 2004. ural Science 32: i±vi, 1±378. ÐÐÐ. 2001. Molendoa. In Bryophyte Flora of North America, Provisional Publication. Missouri Botanical ms. received Aug. 10, 2004; accepted Oct. 4, 2004.