Blepharolejeunea incongrua (Lindenb. & Gottsche) van Slageren & Kruijt

  • Authority

    Gradstein, S. Robbert. 1994. Lejeuneaceae: Ptychantheae, Brachiolejeuneae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 62: 216. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Lejeuneaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Blepharolejeunea incongrua (Lindenb. & Gottsche) van Slageren & Kruijt

  • Type

    Type. Mexico. Sempoaltepec, Liebmann 170b (holotype, W; isotypes, C, G, S).

  • Synonyms

    Phragmicoma nitidiuscula Gottsche, Lejeunea incongrua (Gott) Lindenb., Symbiezidium incongruum (Lindenb. & Gott) Trevis., Dicranolejeunea incongrua (Lindenb. & Gott) Steph.

  • Description

    Species Description - Paroicous. Plants to 3 cm long × 1.1-1.7 mm wide, green to glossy dark or reddish brown when dry, creeping, forming small mats on bark. Branching mainly Frullania-type, occasionally Lejeunea-type. Stems 0.1-0.15 mm in diam., in cross section composed of about 11-15 thickwalled epidermal cells surrounding 15-20 somewhat smaller, ± thin-walled medullary cells, dorsal epidermal cells slightly larger than the ventral epidermal cells; ventral merophyte (2-)4 cell rows wide. Leaves laxly to densely imbricate, rather widely spreading, dorsal lobe ovate-falcate, 0.7-1 × 0.6-0.8 mm, apex rounded to apiculate, recurved, margins entire, ventral margin forming an angle of 120-150° with the keel; median cells 20-35 × 15-25 µm, trigones well-developed, cordate to simple-triangular, oil bodies 15-30 per cell, small, ellipsoid to subglobose, finely segmented, Jungermannia-type, each oil body made up of 3-8 very small granules, becoming homogeneous on age. Lobules broadly ovate-subrectangular, ca. 0.4 mm long, first tooth inflexed, 2 cells long, second tooth not inflexted, 2-3 cells long, the teeth separated by 3-4 free margin cells, margin cells larger than the other lobule cells. Underleaves barely imbricate, orbicular, 0.4-0.5 mm long, ca. 4× stem width, line of insertion arched. Androecia located below the gynoecium after 1-2 series of vegetative leaves, bracts in 2-6 series. Gynoecia: bract lobes obovate-falcate, up to 1.2 mm long, convex above, apex rounded to apiculate, margins entire, lobule small, less than l/3× lobe length, apex with one distinct tooth, keel sharp, without or with a narrow wing; bracteole broadly obovate, distinctly shorter than bracts, ca. 0.7 mm long, convex, apex rounded, margins plane or slightly recurved. Perianths normally immersed, exserted to 1/3 when stalked, obconical, usually brown, with three keels: two sharp lateral keels and one broad rounded ventral keel, the ventral keel smooth, the lateral keels smooth or irregularly ciliate above; beak 4-5 cells long. Sporophyte: spores rectangular, 55-90 µm long, with rosettes; elaters 300-360 µm long.

  • Discussion

    Blepharolejeunea incongrua usually grows in dense, glossy reddish brown mats on bark. The species is easily recognized by the obconical, brownish perianths with sharp lateral keels and a broad, rounded ventral keel. The lateral keels may be smooth or with a few cilia above. When perianths are lacking, characters of the lobule serve to distinguish the species (see Key).

    Chemistry: Terpenoids: various unidentified diterpenoids are the main constituents of this species (Gradstein et al., 1985).

    Illustration, van Slageren & Kruijt, Beih. Nova Hedwigia 80: 134-137, Figs. 7, 8. 1985; van Slageren, Meded. Bot. Mus. Herb. Utrecht 544: 230, Pl. III. 1985.

  • Distribution

    Mexico, Costa Rica, Andes of Venezuela to Bolivia, and SE Brazil (Mt. Itatiaia), ca. 2000-4000 m. Blepharolejeunea incongrua grows on bark of trees and shrubs in rather open, humid, high-montane environments: at forest edges, in shrubby vegetations, in paramos, etc.

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