Taxonomic studies on the genus <i>Atrichum</i> in North America

Abstract

A taxonomic study was made of several North American taxa in the genus Atrichum. The primary emphasis was on the Canadian taxa and a key to the six species (A. altecristatum, A. angustatum, A. crispum, A. oerstedianum, A. selwynii, A. undulatum) and one variety (A. undulatum var. gracilisetum) of the country is presented. Atrichum oerstedianum, which has been confused with A. undulatum, is added to the moss flora of the United States and Canada. The distribution of A. crispum is clarified and a detailed study of the species revealed new morphological characters that are useful to distinguish it. A variety of A. undulatum, the var. altecristatum, is raised to the rank of a species and morphological and distributional data are given to support the status of A. selwynii as a distinct species. The first chromosome counts are reported for A. selwynii (n = 7) and A. altecristatum (n = 14). Detailed descriptions are provided for A. altecristatum, A. crispum, A. oerstedianum, and A. selwynii.