Aloina brevirostris (Hook. & Grev.) Kindb.

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 : 32-33

Aloina brevirostris (Hook. & Grev.) Kindb. [ Pottiaceae ]

Description and iconography

Ochyra et al. (2008).

Distribution and habitat

Aloina brevirostris has a bipolar distribution and in arid areas has been reported growing either in dry or temporally moist habitats. This species grows on stones and boulders, gravelly silt and soil or in rock crevices ( Ochyra et al. 2008). Within the study area, it was found on the plateau and on the slope growing on soil sites both protected by rocks and on exposed zones. This species, together with Bryum pseudotriquetrum , was observed more frequently and formed larger plots, reaching 20 m 2. In most cases, it was observed growing alone or with lichens; however, it was also found growing together with other bryophytes.

Comments

Aloina brevirostris is the only species of the genus reported from Antarctica. The species is characterized by having broadly ligulate leaves with strongly inflexed margins that cover the photosynthetic filaments and the cuculate apex ( Ochyra et al. 2008).