Genera

Tortula

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Identification Key:

         
1 Middle outer marginal cells of the leaf quadrate, subquadrate, short-rectangular or oblate [ratio length/width (0.3)0.6-1.9(2.8)]; capsule erect 2
1 Middle outer marginal cells of the leaf linear to long-rectangular [ratio length/width 7.5-40]; capsule horizontal or cernuous T. cernua
2 Upper and middle laminal cells smooth or with 1-3 simple papillae, 1 μm high 3
2 Upper and middle laminal cells with (2)4-6(10) simple or bifurcate papillae, 2.5-5 μm high 5
3 Capsules cleistocarpous, immersed; leaves usually triangular-lanceolate to oblong or lingulate 4
3 Capsules cleistocarpous, immersed; leaves usually triangular-lanceolate to oblong or lingulate T. acaulon
4 Leaves elliptical to lanceolate, or linear; costa excurrent in a hair-point [(700)1230-1740 μm]; theca cylindrical; peristome of 32 papillose teeth T. arequipensis
4 Leaves usually obovate; costa percurrent or excurrent in mucro [75-450 μm]; theca turbinate; peristome teeth undifferentiated T. truncata
5 Ventral surface cells of the costa rounded to rectangular, (15)22.5-25(32.5) μm length, bulging, disposed in 1-2 layers (in cross-section) 6
5 Ventral surface cells of the costa quadrate, rectangular, sometimes subquadrate, rarely oblate or rounded, (7.5)10-17.5 μm length, not bulging, disposed in 1 layer (in cross-section) 7
6 Leaf lingulate to oblong-lingulate or obovate, rarely elliptical; leaves margins strongly recurved to revolute from near the base to near the apex T. atrovirens
6 Leaf widely ovate to elliptical or orbicular; leaves margins plane T. diaguita
7 Costa usually ending 2-6 cells below the leaf apex; basal laminal cells usually slightly thick-walled and papillose; perichaetial leaves slightly sheathing at base T. jaffuelii
7 Costa usually excurrent in a mucro, apiculus, hair-point or percurrent, rarely ending 2-3 cells below the leaf apex; basal laminal cells thin-walled and smooth; perichaetial leaves not sheathing at base 8
8 Middle laminal cells 12.5-20 µm wide 9
8 Middle laminal cells (5)7.5-12.5(15) µm wide 10
9 Leaves unbordered; peristome teeth 200-230 μm long, straight; spores 17.5-20 μm in diameter T. hoppeana
9 Leaves bordered; peristome teeth c. 510 μm long, spirally twisted; spores 7.5-10 μm in diameter T. vahliana
10 Leaves without intramarginal borders or scarcely differentiated [ratio length/width of middle inner marginal cells (0.7)0.9-1.3(1.6)]; peristome teeth more than one turn spirally twisted; basal membrane of peristome (32.5)41.3-81.3(95) μm long T. muralis
10 Leaves with strongly differentiated intramarginal borders [ratio length/width of middle internal marginal cells (0.8)1.8-3.6(4)]; peristome teeth straight or less than one turn spirally twisted; basal membrane of peristome (87.5)100-132.5(150) μm long T. platyphylla