Verdoornianthus griffinii Gradst.

  • Authority

    Gradstein, S. Robbert. 1994. Lejeuneaceae: Ptychantheae, Brachiolejeuneae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 62: 216. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Lejeuneaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Verdoornianthus griffinii Gradst.

  • Type

    Type. Brazil. Amazonas: Manaus, campus INPA, in secondary terra firme forest, Griffin et al. 1-70-A (holotype, FLAS; isotypes, hb. Grolle, U)

  • Description

    Species Description - Autoicous. Leaf cells with segmented, Calypogeia-type oil bodies (observed in dry material). Lobule rectangular, ca. 0.5 × 0.2 mm, entirely inflated, not flattened towards free margin, keel slightly curved, free margin incurved proximally, at distal edge short continuing into the ventral leaf margin, lobule apex truncate and plane, not folded, apical tooth clearly visible, slender, 2-3 cells long, 1 cell wide; hyaline papilla not observed. Underleaves ca. 1.0 mm wide, rhizoid disc up to 100 µm long. Other characters as in the genus.

  • Discussion

    Verdoornianthus griffinii is distinguished from V. marsupiifolius by the characters mentioned in the key. The species might be confused with Archilejeunea fuscescens, one of the most common liverwort species of Amazonian rain forests.

    When sterile or male the latter can be recognized by its glossy appearance, the widely spreading leaves, the plane free margin of the lobule (incurved in V. griffinii), the dioicous inflorescence (autoicous in V. griffinii) and the dorsal epidermis cells, which are not or hardly larger than the medullary cells. When perianths are present, A. fuscescens is recognized by the presence of subfloral innovations.

  • Distribution

    Verdoornianthus griffinii is known from three widely separated localities: Iquitos (Peru), Manaus (Brazil) and coastal French Guiana. The species occurs on branches and leaves of trees in the canopy of undisturbed lowland rain forest (terra firme). The vast range of V. griffinii and its growth high up in tree crowns suggest that the species has been undercollected and should be more common.

    French Guiana South America| Peru South America| Loreto Peru South America| Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America| Venezuela South America| Amazonas Brazil South America| Trinidad and Tobago South America| Guyana South America| Suriname South America|