Fissidens ecuadorensis Pursell & Brugg.-Nann.
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Authority
Pursell, Ronald A. 2007. Fissidentaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 101 (Published by NYBG Press)
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Family
Fissidentaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Types. Ecuador. Esmeraldas: 15 km NE of Muisne, SE of Esmeraldas, in original forest, alt. 130 m, Steere & Balslev 25588 (holotype, MO; isotypes NY, U).
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Description
Latin Diagnosis - Fissidentis hyalini similis a quo limbidiis latioribus, laxioribus, ex cellulilus latioribus compositis, cellulis lami-nalibus et calyptris cucullatis differt.
Species Description - Plants pale green. Stems monomorphic, delicate, unbranched, to 4 mm long x 2.5 mm wide; rhizoids basal, smooth, light tan; axillary hyaline nodules absent; epidermis large, thin-walled, hyaline; cortical cells thin-walled hyaline; central strand absent. Leaves crispate when dry, loosely imbricate, as many as 6 pairs, lanceolate, acute to obtuse, to 2.5 mm long x 0.6 mm wide, perichaetial leaves largest; margin entire, limbate on all laminae, limbidium weak, 1-3 cells wide, limbidial cells uni- and bistratose; ecostate; dorsal lamina narrowed, ending at insertion, not decurrent; vaginant laminae narrow, 1/3-1/2 leaf length, acute, equal; laminal cells egut-tulate, unistratose, thin-walled, smooth, shrunken greatly when dry, elongate-hexagonal to oblong, 60-90 µm long x 22.5-30.0 µm wide. Monoicous (rhizautoicous); perigonia and perichaetia terminal on stems ± equal in length. Sporophytes 1 per perichaetium, yellow, darkening with age; seta smooth, 4-6.5 mm long; theca exserted, erect, radially symmetric, 0.3-0.5 mm long, stomatose, exothe-cial cells quadrate to oblong, collenchymatous; peristome scariosus type; operculum conic, long-rostrate, 0.4 mm long. Spores finely papillose, 9-13 µm diam. Calyptra cucullate, smooth, 0.5 mm long.
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Discussion
Fissidens ecuadorensis and the next species, F. hyalinus, are characterized by the absence or near absence of a costa. The two species are closely related but differ in a number of small attributes. The best differences are found in the limbidium and cell size. In contrast with the distinct, delicate, narrow limbidium of F. hyalinus, the limbidium of F. ecuadorensis is weakly defined. It is most easily distinguished at a magnification of x 10 and quite distinct when viewed with polarized light. When viewed in this manner, the “total” limbidium, as seen in the median part of the dorsal lamina is seen to consist of 1-2 rows of narrow limbidial cells (135-165 µm long x 7.5-9.0 µm wide) and 1 (-2) rows of wider adjacent cells (60-150 µm long x 12.0-16.5 µm wide), i.e., intermediate in size between to inner laminal cells and the outer limbidal cells. Furthermore, the limbidium in F. ecuadorensis is 1- to 3-stratose but only unistratose in F. hyalinus. The laminal cells of F. ecuadorensis are larger and more elongate than those of F. hyalinus. Finally, the calyptra of F. ecuadorensis is cucullate while in F. hyalinus it is mitrate.
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Distribution
West Indies (Cuba); South America (Ecuador, Peru); on soil; at about 100 m.
La Habana Cuba South America| Piñar del Río Cuba South America| Ecuador South America| Loreto Peru South America|