The taxonomy of Bryum oblongum and B . blindii

• Published in: Canadian Journal of Botany
• Main Author: Shaw, A. Jonathan
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: French
• Published: Canadian Science Publishing 1981
• Subjects: Plant Science; Yukon; Fennoscandia; Alaska
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1139/b81-195; http://www.nrcresearchpress.com/doi/pdf/10.1139/b81-195

Plants agreeing with the type specimen of Bryum oblongum Lindb. were found in northern British Columbia, the Yukon Territory, and Alaska. Bryum oblongum is otherwise known from central Europe, Fennoscandia, and northern Asia. Some authors have considered B. oblongum to be a variety or subspecies of B. blindii B.S.G., with which it shares a number of structural features. Shared and presumed apomorphous (derived) character-states indicate that B. oblongum and B. blindii are closely related, but quantitative evidence shows that the two can be distinguished by at least four structural characters. Propagula were found on about 20% of the total specimens of B. blindii examined, but no propagula were observed on B. oblongum. Ecological data from collection information indicate that B. blindii occurs primarily on calcareous silts and clays, while B. oblongum is more frequent on mildly acidic to neutral substrates. Bryum oblongum is considered a distinct species, and both taxa are described and illustrated.