Stictolejeunea squamata (Willd. ex Web.) Schiffn.
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Authority
Gradstein, S. Robbert. 1994. Lejeuneaceae: Ptychantheae, Brachiolejeuneae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 62: 216. (Published by NYBG Press)
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Family
Lejeuneaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type. West. Indies. "In corticibus Myrti caryophyllatae," unknown collector (S, STR, W)
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Synonyms
Phragmicoma ocellulata Nees & Mont., Stictolejeunea kunzeana (Gottsche, Lindenb. & Nees) Schiffn., Lejeunea squamata var. neesii Gottsche, Lindenb. & Nees, Stictolejeunea rotundifolia Steph., Jungermannia squamata Willd. ex Web., Lejeunea squamata (Willd. ex Web.) Gottsche, Lindenb. & Nees, Symbiezidium squamatum (F.Weber ex Willd.) Trevis.
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Description
Species Description - Dioicous. Plants 1.5-15 cm long × 1.2-2.5 mm wide, glossy pale green when alive, dull green tinged with white or olive in the dried condition, ascending or pendent, small phases may be creeping. Branching: vegetative branches Frullania-type (very rarely Lejeunea-type), specialized sexual branches Lejeunea-type, branching pattern regularly (bi)pinnate, in creeping plants sometimes irregular, fertile plants usually with one to several short Lejeunea-type branches between two adjacent Frullania-type branches. Stems normally robust, 0,2-0,35 mm in diam., in cross section with (15-)25-75 brownish pigmented, strongly thick-walled epidermal cells in (l-)2-3 rows surrounding numerous thinner-walled, unpigmented medullary cells; ventral merophyte (4-)8-18 cell rows wide. Leaves ovate-suborbicular, 0.8-1.6 × 0.6-1.2 mm, apex rounded, often with a (l-)2-3 cell rows wide whitish border, margins entire or crenulate by eroding border cells, dorsal base often extending across the stem; median cells 14-24 × 10-16 µm, oil bodies lacking in green cells, ocelli ca. 20-150 per leaf, 20-30 ×m in diam. Lobules up to l/5(-l/4)× leaf length, on main stems usually smaller and often reduced, inflated and usually curved with the orifice turned backwards, more rarely straight, free margin usually incurved, apex with a 1-3 cells long tooth, the tooth usually incurved and invisible in optical view. Underleaves contiguous or imbricated, broadly ovate to reniform, 0.3-1 × 0.5-1.5 mm, (3-)4-7(-10)× stem width, apex rounded, plane or recurved and sometimes undulated, margins plane, sometimes with a 1-2 cell rows wide whitish border, bases straight, insertion line arched, up to 0.2 mm deep; brown adhesive rhizoid discs produced in epiphyllous plants. Androecia capitate or spicate, occupying a short-specialized Lejeunea-type branch or terminating a long Frullania-type branch (rarely intercalary). Gynoecia on a very short Lejeunea-type branch, usually with one short, vegetative (occasionally long, fertile) innovation, rarely without innovation, bracts and bracteoles as in the genus, with or without ocelli. Perianths 1.5-2 mm long, with or without ocelli, the lateral keels expanded as auricles up to 0.5 mm beyond the beak and almost touching each other, leaving a very narrow opening above the deeply recessed beak, auricles usually with a 2-10 cell rows wide whitish border. Sporophyte outer valve cells with irregularly nodulose thickenings, inner valve cells with irregularly nodulose thickenings which may become enlarged and confluent (van Slageren, 1985, p. 297, Fig.l); spores 20-50 × 15-25 µm; elaters 200-250 × 15 µm.
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Discussion
Chemistry: an oxygenated sesquiterpene and the flavonoid tricetin 6, 8-di-C-B-D-glucopyranoside are chemical markers of this species (Gradstein et al., 1985,1988).
Stictolejeunea squamata is a variable species and some of the variation seems to be correlated with altitude (Gradstein, 1985b). Plants from lower altitudes tend to be small, creeping (more rarely pendent), densely branched and usually lack whitish perianth borders, whereas plants from higher altitudes are more robust, usually pendent, more laxly branched and with very conspicuous whitish perianth borders. The latter have been described as S. kunzeana. Whitish borders may also be present on leaves and/or underleaves but their presence is by no means constant and within single plants leaves or underleaves with or without hyaline borders may be observed.Stictolejeunea squamata normally develops vegetative branches of the Frullania-type and sexual branches of the Lejeunea-type its branching pattern is one of the main features distinguishing it from S. balfourii (subgen. Leptostictolejeunea). In small, creeping phases of S. squamata from lowland rain forest, however, vegetative Lejeunea-type branches may also be produced (Fig. 37A). Examples are collections from Brazil (Maas et al. P13267) and Colombia (Gradstein 8827). -
Objects
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Distribution
Common throughout the humid portions of tropical America, from sea level up to 2400 m. Stictolejeunea squamata grows in primary and disturbed rain forests on tree trunks, lianas, twigs, logs, living leaves, and occasionally on moist rock. Fossil S. squamata has been found in Miocenic amber of the Dominican Republic (see FOSSILS).
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