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 : 32-36

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).

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

Examined material: Antarctica, Marambio Island , going down from the plateau towards Caleta Larsen (64°13 ′ 53.8 ′ ’ S; 56°36 ′ 27.97 ′ ’ W; 84 m. a.s.l.), on unprotected ground, 15.1.2022, A. C. Cottet and L. P. Dopchiz ( BCRU 5671 ) ; ibid., descending from the plateau towards the west coast, from the Very-High-Frequency Omnidirectional Range towards Streamlet La Tradición (64°13 ′ 49.00 ′ ’ S; 56°37 ′ 54.73 ′ ’ W; 23 m. a.s.l.), on unprotected ground, 17.1.2022, A. C. Cottet ( BCRU 5688 ) ; ibid., Streamlet La Tradición (64° 13 ′ 58.01 ′′ S; 56°37 ′ 35.76 ′′ W; 53 m. a.s.l.), on unprotected soil, 17.1.2022, A. C. Cottet ( BCRU 5691 ) ; ibid., descending from the plateau towards the west coast by stream from the end of the track (64°14 ′ 12.08 ′′ S; 56°39 ′ 22.03 ′′ W; 46 m. a.s.l.), on unprotected ground, 19.1.2022, A. C. Cottet ( BCRU 5696 ) ; ibid., streamlet from the end of the runway (64°14 ′ 13.49 ′′ S; 56°39 ′ 56.16 ′′ W; 12 m. a.s.l.), on unprotected ground, 19.1.2022, A. C. Cottet ( BCRU 5700 ) ; ibid., Streamlet La Tradición (64°13 ′ 59.70 ′′ S; 56°37 ′ 55.92 ′′ W; 36 m. a.s.l.), on unprotected soil, 19.1.2022, A. C. Cottet ( BCRU 5706 ) ; ibid., on the plateau on the way to La Remota (64°14 ′ 48.62 ′′ S; 56°38 ′ 16.22 ′′ W; 191 m. a.s.l.), on soil protected by rocks, 21.1.2022, A. C. Cottet ( BCRU 5710 ) ; ibid., west coast, near Casa de Botes , streamlet zone to the north (64°15 ′ 39.60 ′′ S; 56° 43 ′ 57.97 ′′ W; 18 m. a.s.l.), on unprotected soil, 29.1.2022, A. C. Cottet and L. P. Dopchiz ( BCRU 5730 ) ; ibid., streamlet zone to the south (64°15 ′ 33.37 ′′ S; 56° 43 ′ 53.08 ′′ W; 16 m. a.s.l.), on unprotected soil, 30.1.2022, A. C. Cottet and L. P. Dopchiz ( BCRU 5736 ) .