Diverseleaf Small Limestone Moss

Seligeria diversifolia occurs on stones in arctic Alaska, then south along the western mountains into the Yukon, and is found on cliff faces from a few stations in eastern North America. It is slender and stiff with differentiated perichaetial leaves, and a straight to slightly curved seta when moist, while the similar S. campylopoda has curved-twisted leaves, no differentiated perichaetial leaves, and a markedly curved seta when moist.

Plants tiny, olive green. Leaves ovate-oblong to broadly ligulate, gradually narrowed, obtuse, costa ending before apex, margins entire; leaf cells (1-)2:1; perichae-tial leaves sharply contracted to stout, short subula from clasping base, strongly differentiated. Seta 2-2.5 mm, twisted, curved when moist, ± straight when dry, slender. Capsule ovate-oblong to oblong, longer than broad, not widest at mouth; peristome of 16 well-developed teeth; columella immersed. Spores 9-11 µm.

Plants very small, only to 2.0 mm high, yellow, in compact tufts. Stems erect, simple. Leaves imbricate and concave; oblong-ovate and obtuse, gradually becoming larger toward the stem apex on sterile plants; margins entire; costa strong, percurrent or excurrent, not filling subula; cells smooth, rectangular at base, short and qudarate above. Autoicous. Perichaetial leaves sheathing at base, abruptly narrowed to a stout, short subula. Setae elongate, straight, twisted or curved when dry, almost straight when moist; capsules ovoid to oblong-ovoid, somewhat asymmetric. Other features are the same as those described in the generic description.

Distribution: China, Ukraine, Europe, Greenland, and North America.

Habitat: on calcareous rocks in high mountains, often mixed with other mosses.

Seligeria diversifolia là một loài rêu trong họ Seligeriaceae. Loài này được Lindb. mô tả khoa học đầu tiên năm 1861.