Orthotrichum laevigatum J.E. Zetterst.

Hugonnot, Vincent, 2019, New records for the bryophyte flora of Corsica, Cryptogamie, Bryologie 20 (14), pp. 153-158 : 156

Orthotrichum laevigatum J.E. Zetterst.

SPECIMEN EXAMINED. — France. Haute-Corse, Corte, gorges de la Restonica, Source de Triggione, on acidic rock outcrops, 4.V.2017, 1650 m a.s.l., V. Hugonnot s.n.

Remarks

It was growing on granitic vertical rock walls in cold environment with no directly associated bryophytes. It is known from alpine comparable habitats in Western Europe ( Maier & Schäfer-Verwimp 1999; Bardat et al. 2013). The Corsican material was fully fertile (presence of mature sporophytes).

Orthotrichum laevigatum is a Boreo-Alpine species ( Lara & Garilleti 2014) with a disjunct distribution, including western North America, western Europe, and Asia ( Ellis et al. 2014). In Europe, it occurs in Italian, French and Swiss Alps, Greece, Iceland, Norway, Sardinia, Spain and Turkey ( Lara et al. 2002; Blockeel 2010; Ros et al. 2013; Ellis et al. 2014; Erdag & Kürscher 2017).

The species was thoroughly studied in France (Savoie Department) by Bardat et al. (2013). Unfortunately, after revision of the plant described in their publication, we verify that it is to be referred to a high-altitude morph of Orthotrichum speciosum Nees (specimens N° 8006, 8327, 8371 from Pierre Boudier private herbarium, revised by Vincent Hugonnot). The diagnostic characters of O. laevigatum are: exserted capsules, smooth exothecium and exostome teeth that remain erect when dry ( Lara & Garilleti 2014).