Splachnobryum limbatum Norris & Zander
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Authority
Buck, William R. 1987. Bryostephane Steereana: A Collection of Bryological Papers Presented to William Campbell Steere On The Occasion of His 80th Birthday. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 45: 1-749.
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Family
Splachnaceae
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Scientific Name
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Description
Distribution and Ecology - Collection studied: PHILIPPINES. Cebu: On corraline rock, shaded. University of San Carlos Campus, Cebu City, 1984, R. Ramos 64.
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Discussion
The description of S. limbatum from the Solomon Islands which is characterized by large gametophores with strongly bordered leaves (Norris & Zander, 1981) fits well the Philippine specimens collected from Cebu Island (Ramos 64). The local habitat, like its counterpart in the Solomon Islands, is also a calcareous substrate. However, the Philippine specimens tend to have oblong leaves with more rounded and slightly apiculate apices. This difference, however, is not important because the type specimen (Norris & Roberts 49140, buf!), upon close examination, revealed some leaves with a similar apiculate apex.
In general, species of Splachnobryum colonize more open or disturbed wet sites. Most of them are pioneer species which disappear with the establishment of other succession species. The present disjunction of Splachnobryum limbatum in these two distantly separated islands may prove to be an artifact when more careful collections of often overlooked annual mosses are made from the intervening areas.
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Distribution
Collection studied: PHILIPPINES. Cebu: On corraline rock, shaded. University of San Carlos Campus, Cebu City, 1984, R. Ramos 64.
Philippines Asia|