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Pyxidanthera brevifolia

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Pyxidanthera brevifolia
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Clade: Asterids
Order: Ericales
Family: Diapensiaceae
Genus: Pyxidanthera
Species:
P. brevifolia
Binomial name
Pyxidanthera brevifolia
Wells
Synonyms[1][2]

Pyxidanthera barbulata var. brevifolia (Wells) H.E. Ahles

Pyxidanthera brevifolia, the littleleaf pixiemoss[3] or sandhills pyxie-moss, is a plant species known only from North Carolina and South Carolina. It occurs in deep, sandy soil such as sand hills and sandy ridgetops, sometimes in open pine-oak woodlands, at elevations of 50–200 m (160–660 ft).[4]

Pyxidanthera brevifolia is closely related to the more widespread P. barbulata, and some authors have suggested considering the two as a single species. For the moment, though, Flora of North America[4] and the Kew Gardens Plant List [5] both accept P. brevifolia as a distinct species. The two can be distinguished by the leaves. Leaves of P. brevifolia are shorter than those of P. barbulata, rarely more than 4 millimetres (0.16 in) long. They also lack the marginal cilia characteristic of P. barbulata, and are more intensely woolly on the underside.[6]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Tropicos
  2. ^ Ahles, Harry E. Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society 80(2): 173. 1964.
  3. ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "​Pyxidanthera brevifolia​". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 16 October 2015.
  4. ^ a b Flora of North America v 8 p 337
  5. ^ Kew Gardens Plant List
  6. ^ Wells, Bertram Whittier. Journal of the Elisha Mitchell Scientific Society 44(2): 238–239, pl. 9. 1929.