Mastigolejeunea innovans (Spruce) Steph.

  • Authority

    Gradstein, S. Robbert & Ilkiu-Borges, Anna L. 2009. Guide to the plants of Central French Guiana. Part 4. Liverworts and hornworts. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 76 (4): i-iv + 1-140.

  • Family

    Lejeuneaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Mastigolejeunea innovans (Spruce) Steph.

  • Description

    Species Description - Plants rather robust, 2-2.5 mm wide, olive-green to blackish brown. Leaf lobes convex when moist, oblong, 1.5-1.8 times longer than wide, ventral margin somewhat upcurved, forming a wide angle with keel. Cells in midlobe 25-30 x 15-20 µm. Lobules ovate- rectangular, 1/3-2/5 of leaf length, inflated along keel, free margin plane, on stem leaves with 2-3 trianglar teeth, tipped by a single cell, becoming progressively smaller away from apex, on branch leaves with only 1 tooth, lobule apex short or long and extending into ventral margin of lobe. Underleaves imbricate, not squarrose, obdeltoid, 3-4 times stem width, apex plane. Autoicous. Androecia on short, specialized branches bearing only male bracts, rarely on long branches bearing bracts as well as vegetative leaves. Perianths 3-keeled, additional folds lacking.

  • Discussion

    This species is known from only two localities in Amazonia and two in French Guiana (Gradstein, 1994). It seems to be restricted to the high canopy of lowland rain forest and probably has been overlooked.