Sporophyte-bearing specimens of Pleurochaete squarrosa in Zamora, Spain

We report the occurrence of sporophytes in samples of Pleurochaete squarrosa (Brid.) Lindb. from several localities of Zamora province (NW Spain). The frequence and abundance of fructifications in this area are remarkable for a moss species which sexual reproduction is very rarely observed in Europe. The peristome, observed with scanning electron microscope (SEM), is also described. It is shown to consist of 16 deeply cleft teeth, instead of the 32 teeth that are usually reported in the descriptions of this species.