Riccia boliviensis Jovet-Ast

  • Authority

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

  • Family

    Ricciaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Riccia boliviensis Jovet-Ast

  • Type

    Type. Bolivia. Cochabamba: 3 mi. W Quillacolla-Cochabamba, 2560 m, Hermann 24590 (holotype, PC; isotype, US).

  • Description

    Species Description - Thalli in gregarious patches; lobes 2-3 times forked, 7-10 mm long, 1.5-2.5 mm wide, rounded apically; dorsal side pale grayish green, often with brown spots above sporangia; flanks violet, inflexed when dry; ventral side light green, dotted with violet, at least at apex of lobes. Median groove only apically distinct. Epidermal cells convex or pyriform. Ventral scales black-violet, glossy, imbricate, extending beyond lobe margins, often bordered by small hyaline cells. Cross section of lobes 0.6-0.8 mm high, 3-4 times as wide as high; dorsal edge acute laterally, with short, black-violet wings; flanks obliquely ascending, ventral edge slightly convex; cells of dorsal tissue thin-walled. Monoecious. Antheridial necks hardly protruding, hyaline. Sporangia hardly bulging. Spores tetrahedral, 96-120 µm diam., orange-brown or red-brown; wing 2.5-6 |im wide, light yellow, margin crenulate; distal face with rounded, glossy, orange tubercles or with sinuose ridges; proximal face with similar ornamentation, triradiate scar weak.

  • Discussion

    The nearly black, glossy scales of Riccia boliviensis are similar to those of R. albopunctata and R. squamata. However, in R. boliviensis, idioblasts are lacking and spores have a crenulate wing.

  • Distribution

    Riccia boliviensis has been recorded from Venezuela (Falcon, 140 m) and Bolivia (Cochabamba, 2560 m). The species seems to be rare; it has been collected on clay and sandstone, on borders of intermittent rivers, under shrubby vegetation, and in thorn-woodland (Jovet-Ast, 1991).

    Cochabamba Bolivia South America| Falcón Venezuela South America|