Ceratolejeunea filaria (Taylor) Steph.

  • Authority

    Dauphin L, G. 2003. . Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 90: 1-86. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Lejeuneaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Ceratolejeunea filaria (Taylor) Steph.

  • Type

    Type. Venezuela: La Esmeralda, Jameson s.n. (isotypes, BM, G, MANCH, W), syn. nov.

  • Synonyms

    Ceratolejeunea longicornis (Gottsche) Steph., Ceratolejeunea fastigiata (Spruce) Steph., Ceratolejeunea schwaneckei Steph., Ceratolejeunea spinosa var. flagelliformis Steph., Ceratolejeunea sacculosa Herzog, Ceratolejeunea flagelliformis (Steph.) Fulford, Ceratolejeunea multiocellata Herzog, Lejeunea filaria T.Taylor

  • Description

    Species Description - Plants dioicous?, green or brown to almost black, creeping to hanging, leafy shoot 0.75-2.0 mm wide, with profuse, short lateral branches (subsimple). Stems 125-145 µm in diameter, medullary cells 18-29 in cross section, ventral cells in surface view quadrate to rectangular, 25-70 × 25-110 µm, dorsal cells quadrate to rectangular, 45-60 × 55-70 µm. Lateral branches becoming flagelliferous, leaflets 150-460 × 240-700 µm, antical leaflet lobe margins entire in younger branches to roughly toothed in older ones, with 5-10 teeth. Stem leaves imbricate; lobe ovate from a wide base, sometimes asymmetrical, 620-720 × 830-900 µm, antical margins entire or sometimes toothed at the apical region, teeth 0-4, 1-2 cells long, ca. 10 µm long, postical margin entire, apex rounded or broadly acute, incurved or plane; median leaf lobe cells isodiametrical to elliptical, 20-30 × 20-60 µm; marginal cells quadrate to rectangular, 10-20 × 1520 µm; oil bodies granular, elliptical, 2-5 per cell; ocelli long-hexagonal, 30-40 × 50-60 µm, basal, 0-1 per leaf; lobules ovoid, reduced or spherical, 0.2 the leaf lobe length, free margin involute or plane, with apical tooth short or long and curved; hyaline papilla bulging. Utriculi frequent, in pairs or solitary at the base of lateral branches, rounded to reniform. Underleaves imbricate, long ovate to reniform, 370-950 × 310-880 µm, lobes acute, ending in a one-celled tip, margins entire, plane or rarely incurved, base frequently cordate, with rounded asymmetrical lobes. Vegetative regeneration from laminar leaf lobe cells reported by Fulford (1944b). Androecia in lateral spikes of 3-6 pairs of bracts, spikes 500-1125 µm long. Gynoecia with one or two innovations, fertile or sterile, bracts toothed to laciniate; bracteole ovate, 300-500 × 400-550 µm. Perianth obconical, 400-450 × 530-920 µm, horns long, slender. Sporophyte seta 145 µm in diameter, ca. 1200 µm long. Elaters 290 µm long. Spores 32.5 × 77.5 µm, rosettes simple.

  • Discussion

    Ceratolejeunea filaria is distinguished by the morphology of the underleaves on main stems: strongly reniform with "deep insertion" and rounded, unequal lobes (one bigger than the other). In high elevation specimens, e.g., Gradstein & Mues 9689 (GOET), the underleaves appear incurved. Diagnostic for this species are the long perianth horns enclosed by the bracts with laciniate margins, the presence of flagelliferous branches in very developed specimens, and lateral pinnate branching. The main stem leaves can be toothed or entire; a greater development of teeth is seen on flagelliferous branches.

    Distribution and Ecology: A mountain species, found in high elevation forest areas over 2000 m and descending to middle elevations in very wet areas from Mexico to Bolivia. Usually growing in well-illuminated places, such as light gaps, canopies, and old secondary growth areas, this species forms hanging mats on branches or twigs, but can also grow on leaves. It grows in pure mats or mixed with other bryophytes.

  • Distribution

    Mexico North America| Chiapas Mexico North America| Oaxaca Mexico North America| Honduras Central America| Atlántida Honduras Central America| Costa Rica South America| Alajuela Costa Rica Central America| Puntarenas Costa Rica Central America| San José Costa Rica Central America| Panama Central America| Darién Panamá Central America| Cuba South America| Oriente Cuba South America| Haiti South America| Puerto Rico South America| Luquillo Puerto Rico South America| Dominica South America| Guadeloupe South America| Saint Kitts and Nevis South America| Martinique South America| Colombia South America| Cauca Colombia South America| Valle Colombia South America| Venezuela South America| Falcón Venezuela South America| Sucre Venezuela South America| Ecuador South America| Galápagos Islands Ecuador South America| Peru South America| San Martín Peru South America| Brazil South America| Pernambuco Brazil South America| Bolivia South America| La Paz Bolivia South America| Cochabamba Bolivia South America|