Tropicos | Name - Blindia Bruch & Schimp.

Andean Bryo > Seligeriaceae > Blindia

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Blindia Bruch & Schimp.

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Search in African Plants Database at Geneva Botanical Garden

Project Name Data (Last Modified On 9/17/2009)

Acceptance : Accepted

Project Data (Last Modified On 4/20/2013)

General Reference:

Bartlett, J. K. & D. H. Vitt. 1986. A survey of species in the genus Blindia (Bryopsida, Seligeriaceae). New Zealand J. Bot. 24: 203–246.

Notes (Last Modified On 4/20/2013)

Notes:

Blindia contains 16 species widely distributed, in the tropics generally confined to high elevations; three species in the Neotropics. The genus in the tropical Andes is found in high open montane to páramo and puna sties, on rocks associated with streams. Blindia is characterized by the aquatic habitat, restricted to rocks; the rather stiff habit; the short to long oblong upper and median laminal cells; dark red, well differentiated alar cells, pyriform capsules; and smooth, red peristome teeth. When sterile, the genus may be confused with members of the Dicranaceae, but in Blindia the leaf costa in cross-section is mostly composed of undifferentiated cells.

Blindia contiene 16 especies ampliamente distribuidas, en los trópicos generalmente confinadas a grandes elevaciones; tres especies en el Neotrópico. El género en los Andes tropicales se encuentra en zonas abiertas del bosque montano alto hasta el páramo y puna lugares, sobre rocas asociadas con quebradas. Blindia se caracteriza por el hábitat acuático, restringida a rocas; el hábito bastante rígido; las células superiores y mediales de la lámina corto- a largo- oblongas; rojo oscuras, células alares bien diferenciadas, cápsulas piriformes; y dientes del peristoma rojos, lisos. Cuando estéril, el género puede ser confundido con miembros de Dicranaceae, pero en Blindia la costa de la hoja en corte transversal generalmente está compuesta de células indiferenciadas.

Status Unknown for the following two species:

Blindia jamesonii Mont., Syll. 42. 1856. Type: Ecuador. prope Quito, Jameson (PC-Montagne; isotype G). Bartlett and Vitt (1986) exclude this taxon from Blindia; they note that the specimen exhibits crispate leaves, upper cells rounded-quadrate, and capsules oblong-cylindrical.

Blindia sonsoniae Müll. Hal., Linnaea 38: 593. 1874. Type: Colombia. Antioquia, Sonson, 9,000 pedes, 1872, Wallis. The type specimen was collected by G. Wallis near Sonsón (Depto. Antioquia), at 2743 m elevation. The type has not been located (cf. Bartlett & Vitt, 1986), and likely destroyed in 1943 in Berlin. If in fact a species of Blindia, it is likely to be a synonym of B. magellanica.

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Plants rather small plants, forming loose to more commonly dense tufts or ascending mats, glossy brownish- to yellowish-green; stems erect, wiry, to 10 cm tall, few to several branched by innovations; central strand present. Leaves erect to erect-spreading, subulate from an ovate to obovate base, apex aristate, base weakly auriculate; margins plane, entire to distally dentate or serrulate; costae single, strong, long excurrent; laminal cells thick-walled, median cells oblong-linear; distal cells and toward margin shorter; basal cells golden red; alar region differentiated, outer cells inflated, oblong-rectangular, hyaline or yellowish, inner cells smaller, walls thicker, golden-red. Dioicous. Perichaetia terminal. Setae elongate, flexuose or cygneous, smooth. Capsules erect, urn pyriform; opercula low conic-rostrate, oblique; peristome teeth 16, smooth, spreading when dry. Calyptrae cucullate, smooth and naked. Spores spherical, lightly papillose.

Plantas muy pequeñas, formando manojos laxos a más comúnmente densos o matas ascendentes, verde-amarillentas hasta –parduzcas brillantes; tallos erectos, alambrinos, hasta 10 cm de alto, poco a muy ramificados por innovaciones; banda central presente. Hojas erectas hasta erecto-extendidas, subuladas desde una base ovada a obovada, ápices aristados, bases débilmente auriculadas; márgenes planos, enteros hasta distalmente dentados o serrulados; costa simple, fuerte, largo-excurrente; células de la lámina con paredes gruesas, células mediales oblongo-lineales; células distales y hacia el margen cortas; células basales rojo doradas; región alar diferenciada, células externas infladas, oblongo-rectangulares, hialinas o amarillentas, células internas menores, con paredes gruesas, rojo doradas. Dioicas. Periquecios terminales. Setas alargadas, flexuosas o císneas, lisas. Cápsulas erectas, urna piriforme; opérculo bajo cónico-rostrado, oblicuo; peristoma con 16 dientes, lisos, patentes en seco. Caliptra cucualada, lisa y desnuda. Esporas esféricas, finamente papilosas.