Bazzania sublonga Fulford
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Authority
Fulford, Margaret H. 1963. Manual of the leafy Hepaticae of Latin America--Part I. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 11: 1-172.
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Family
Lepidoziaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Species Description - Plants of medium size to large, olive-green to brownish-green; stems 6 cm or more long, with leaves 3-4 mm broad, prostrate to ascending; lateral branches frequent, 1-2 mm apart, diverging at a wide angle; flagelliform branches frequent. Line of leaf insertion curved in the upper half. Leaves imbricate, falcate, becoming deflexed on drying, elongate, subrectangular to asymmetrically ovate, 1.5-2.0 mm long, 0.5-0.8 mm broad at the base, little narrowed to the tridentate apex; teeth equal to unequal, three to six cells broad at the base, three to six cells high, very sharp by one elongated cell, the sinuses rather broad, rounded; leaf-cells thin-walled with very large knot-like trigones with convex sides, the lumina elogate to angular-rounded, the cuticle faintly verruculose; cells of the apical portion 27-36 X 24-27 µ, those of the median and basal portions larger. Underleaves imbricate, quadrate to rectangular in outline, 0.48-0.55 mm long and wide, the lateral margins straight or undulate, entire, the apex truncate, the margin with shallow lobes and teeth and usually an incurved tooth at each end. Female branches occasional, the bracts (immature) crenate, laciniate. Male branches, perianths and sporophyte not seen. Fig. 26, a-d.
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Discussion
This species appears to be restricted to the tops of peaks in Jamaica. The plants are large and combine characteristics of several species. They are similar to B. latidens in general appearance, but the leaf-cells of that species are smaller, only 20-24 µ, and the apical margins of the underleaves are rounded-entire or faintly undulate. The long falcate leaves suggest leaves of B. longa, but here again, the apices of the underleaves are rounded-entire or only undulate. The leaf-cells of the two species are quite similar. While the underleaves are similar to those of B. glaziovii, the leaf-cells of the latter are only 20-24 µ. in diameter.
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Distribution
Habitat: In mats or tufts, on logs at higher altitudes.
Jamaica South America|