Syntrichia caninervis Mitt. var. caninervis

Cottet, Agustina Celeste, Messuti, María Inés, Ansaldo, Martín & Dopchiz, Laura Patricia, 2025, Mosses (Bryophyta) of the north-western region of Marambio (Seymour) Island, Antarctica, Antarctic Science (Cambridge, England) 37 (1), pp. 31-38 : 35

Syntrichia caninervis Mitt. var. caninervis [ Pottiaceae ]

Description and iconography

Ochyra et al. (2008).

Distribution and habitat

A bipolar species, with some intermediated occurrences. Syntrichia caninervis var. caninervis grows on dry, fine, friable soil stabilized by mosses ( Ochyra et al. 2008). In the coastal region of the island, representatives of S. caninervis var. caninervis were found growing on rock in exposed sites.

Comments

This species is similar to a common species in Antarctica, Syntrichia magellanica ; however, it is distinguished from the latter by the presence of a hyaline hair on the leaf and a papillose dorsal surface of the costa. In addition, S. caninervis var. caninervis has recurved leaf margins and bifurcated, pedicelate papillae ( Ochyra et al. 2008). Furthermore, this species is distinguished from S. caninervis var. gypsophila , a variety found in Antarctica, as it has irregularly bistratose laminal cells in the distal hairs of the leaves. Finally, the upper leaves are larger and have thinner walls ( Ochyra et al. 2008).