Oxymitra incrassata (Brot.) Sérgio & Sim-Sim

  • Authority

    Bischler, Hélène, et al. 2005. Marchantiidae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 97: 1--262. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Oxymitraceae

  • Scientific Name

    Oxymitra incrassata (Brot.) Sérgio & Sim-Sim

  • Type

    Type. Portugal. Near Coimbra (n.v.).

  • Synonyms

    Riccia incrassata Brot., Riccia pyramidata Raddi, Oxymitra pyramidata Huebener, Pycnoscenus pyramidatus (Willd.) Lindb., Oxymitra androgyna M.Howe, Tessellina pyramidata (Willd.) Dumort., Oxymitra paleacea Bisch.

  • Description

    Species Description - Thallus grayish green or dark green, often tinged with purple, dark red on margins and at base, 1-3 times branched, often forming hemi-rosettes; lobes up to 10 mm long, 2.5-7 mm wide, in cross section somewhat higher than wide; median groove deep. Epidermal cells thin-walled, pores bounded by 5-7 cells. Ventral scales white apically, large, extending beyond thallus margins. Dioecious. Archegonia enclosed in pyriform involucres with a short beak, bounded by white filiform scales. Spores black, 80-200 per capsule, 100-175 mm diam., distal face with 4-5 shallow, faintly tuberculate areoles across diam., proximal face faintly tuberculate, triradiate mark distinct.

  • Discussion

    The thallus of Oxymitra incrassata resembles Riccia in some ways but differs in the large white acute ventral scales that extend beyond the thallus margins and by the pyriform involucres that bound each sporophyte.

    Distribution and Ecology: Common in the Mediterranean area, C Europe to 50° N, SW Asia, and Macaronesia, disjunct in S United States (Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas) and South America (35°-36°S). In the Neotropics rare, known from Mexico (D. F., Puebla (Schuster, 1992b), San Luis Potosí (Schuster, 1992b), Brazil (Rio Grande do Sul (Vianna, 1976)), Paraguay, Argentina (Buenos Aires, Catamarca, Córdoba, Tucumán (Hässel de Menéndez, 1963)), Uruguay. The species grows on periodically moist, compact, sandy soil or clay at base of rocks, on soil between calcareous or granitic blocks, exposed, in grassland or under open vegetation (shrubs, open forest), often associated with Riccia species and Sphaerocarpos, from sea level to 3000 m.

  • Distribution

    Distrito Federal Mexico North America| Catamarca Argentina South America| Córdoba Argentina South America| Buenos Aires Argentina South America| Asunción Paraguay South America| Paraguarí Paraguay South America| Montevideo Uruguay South America| Mexico North America|