GBA onlineHYPOPTERIGIACEAE(M.J. Wigginton) Plants pleurocarpous, medium-sized to large, forming loose frondose tufts, pale- to dark green, yellow or light golden-brown. Shoots differentiated into stolons and stems. Stolons creeping, branched, radiculose. Stems either simple or branched; when simple, not differentiated and ± horizontal, when branched usually differentiated into a vertical stipe and a more horizontal branched frond, with ramification pinnate, bipinnate, palmate or umbellate; stems in cross section, with or without central strand. Branching lateral, rarely ventral. Foliation variable: usually complanate when wet, crispate when dry. Leaves of frond dimorphic, in 3 rows, two lateral rows and one ventral row (underleaves); lateral leaves incubous, patent, asymmetrical, apex shortly or longly acuminate, base sometimes shortly decurrent on one side; costa distinct, single, 0.3-0.65 leaf length to excurrent; margins plane, entire to coarsely serrate-dentate; leaves with or without a border (limbate); underleaves smaller than lateral leaves, variable in shape, erecto-patent to widely patent, ± symmetrical; costa ending below apex to longly excurrent. Branch leaves usually smaller than stem leaves, otherwise similar. Monoicous or dioicous. Gametoecia usually lateral on main axis, sometimes arising from the axils of underleaves. Sporophytes exserted, usually one per perichaetium. Seta very short to long, smooth or roughened. Capsules erect to pendulous, rather short, ovoid, ellipsoid or cylindrical. Peristome double; exostome teeth 16, papillose (at least distally); endostome hyaline, papillose, processes 16, cilia present or absent. Operculum short- to long-rostrate. Calyptra shortly to longly rostrate. Gemmae sometimes present. HABITAT. Decaying logs, and humic soil over tree roots, bases and trunks, on rocks and leaf litter; Lopidium usually epiphytic on trees, shrubs and climbers. DISCUSSION. Following Kruijer (2002), the Hypopterygiaceae contain 7 genera and 21 species, with the greatest diversity in eastern Asia and Australasia. Three genera, each containing one species, occur in Africa. The family, previously associated with the Hookeriales, is currently placed in the order Hypnales. Distinguishing features of the African species include the 1) frondose habit, 2) dimorphic, often bordered, leaves in 3 ranks, 3) smooth laminal cells. LITERATURE. Kruijer, H. 1997. British Bryological Expedition to Mulanje Mountain, Malawi. 6. Hypopterygiaceae (Musci). Journal of Bryology 19: 515-520. Kruijer, H. 2002. Hypopterygiaceae of the world. Blumea, Supplement 13: 1-388.
A small genus of 7 species, with its highest diversity in west Asia. Only one species, Cyathophorum africanum Dixon, is known from Africa, occurring disjunctly from Ethiopia to Tanzania. The species was formerly assigned to Cyathophorella M.Fleisch. Plants forming open or dense turfs, often in fan-shaped formation. Stems simple, straight, mostly ± horizontal to ascending, to 4.5 cm long, rhizoids usually abundant towards base, central strand present or absent. Leaves pale- to dark green, margins entire in basal part, weakly to strongly serrate distally, and often to near base, border faint to distinct, 1-4 cells wide, interrupted distally; laminal cells not collenchymatous, oblong-hexagonal to shortly linear-hexagonal, acumen cells longer; border cells shorter or longer than adjacent laminal cells, walls often somewhat incrassate. Lateral leaves 2.5-4.5 mm long, ovate, longly acuminate; costa 0.3-0.65 leaf length. Underleaves ovate to narrowly lanceolate, 0.5-1.6 mm long; costa reaching 0.65 leaf length to faintly percurrent. Autoicous. Gametoecia in the axils of lateral leaves and sometimes underleaves, mostly situated in the middle and distal parts of the shoot, often in the axils of discrete and widely separated groups of about 5-12 pairs of lateral leaves + underleaves along the shoot. Sporophytes developing on ventral side of shoot, and therefore hidden beneath the leaves. Seta horizontal or directed downwards, 1.2-2 mm long, smooth. Capsule erect, cylindrical-ovoid or barrel-shaped, 0.8-1.6 mm long, pale. Peristome teeth colourless to pale yellow; narrow, exostome teeth papillose; endostome papillose, basal membrane not exceeding the orifice, cilia absent or rudimentary. Operculum shortly rostrate. Gemmae absent. HABITAT. In humid montane and submontane rain forests, epiphytic on tree bases, trunks and branches, also on rock, litter and humic soil; 1200-2500 m. DISCUSSION. Cyathophorum is easily distinguished from other superficially similar taxa by the presence of underleaves, together with the rather short, hexagonal laminal cells with thin walls. Some species of Lepidopilum and Lepidopilidium are somewhat similar at first glance, but they have only two ranks of leaves, and a short, double costa. LITERATURE.
Kruijer, H. 2002. - (see family references); Kruijer,
H. 1997. - (see family references). A small genus of 7 species, with one species, H. tamarisci (Sw. ex Sw.) Brid. ex Müll.Hal. in Africa, widespread in eastern to southern parts of the continent, with few records west of the Congo Basin. Hypopterygium tamarisci has a pantropical, southern temperate distribution, and is the most widespread species of the genus. Plants gregarious in groups of dendroides or fans, medium sized, forming loose frondose tufts, mid- to dark green. Stipes ascending or vertical, radiculose below, with central strand; stipe leaves few and distant, often eroded. Fronds broad, to 3 cm across, angled from the stipe (i.e. held sub-erect to ? horizontally), palmately branched, with secondary branches; foliation of stems and branches complanate. Leaves dimorphic, in 3 ranks, two lateral and one ventral (underleaves), leaves of branches smaller than on main axis, otherwise similar. Lateral leaves broadly ovate, to 2 mm long, costa very wide at base, quickly narrowing, 0.65-0.75 lamina length, often forked distally; margins entire to coarsely serrate-dentate, apices gradually to abruptly acuminate. Underleaves orbicular, symmetric, ca 1 mm long, apex abruptly and longly cuspidate; margins smooth or sharply serrate distally; costa usually excurrent (sometimes disappearing below apex); border narrow, of 1-2 cell rows. Cells of leaves and underleaves shortly rhombic to hexagonal, walls thin or somewhat thickened; basal cells of lateral leaves more elongate, weakly porose. Heteroicous or dioicous. Gametoecia in basal or middle part of frond. Sporophytes up to 10 or more per frond, 1 (rarely 2) per perichaetium. Seta ascending, to 16 mm long, smooth. Capsule inclined to pendulous, ovoid to short cylindrical; exothecial cells rounded; stomata at urn base, appearing immersed. Peristome with exostome teeth striate-papillose below, distally papillose, bordered, strongly trabeculate on back; endostome with 2-3 cilia. Operculum long-rostrate, oblique. Calyptra cucullate, occasionally appearing short mitrate, sparsely hairy. Hypopterygium tamarisci (Hook.) Brid. G: habit, dorsal view. H: habit, with 2 sporophytes. J: lateral leaves of stem. K: portion of branch. L: underleaves. M,N: median leaf cells of different leaves showing variation in wall thickness. P: margin of lateral stem leaf. HABITAT. On rotting logs, and on humus over tree bases, tree trunks, rocks (granite, sandstone), and on concrete. Found in shaded, humid places, and near streams, mostly in forests, occasionally in open woodland; 170-4160 m, but in tropical Africa mostly 650-3000 m, and in South Africa 200-1500 m. DISCUSSION. Hypopterygium tamarisci is easily recognised by its ascending or vertical stems and broad, spreading fronds, the dimorphic leaves in 3 rows, and a long seta. The presence of endostomial cilia also differentiate it from other species of the Hypopterygiaceae in Africa. LITERATURE.
Kruijer, H. 1997. - (see family references); Kruijer,
H. 2002. -
(see family
references). Magill, R.E. & Van Rooy, J. 1998. Bryophyta. Part
1. Musci. Fascicle 3. Erpodiaceae - Hookeriaceae, In: O.A.Leistner,
Flora of Southern Africa. Pretoria: National Botanical Institute,
pp. 614-617. Pfeiffer,
T., Kruijer, J.D., Frey, W. & Stech, M. 2000. Systematics of the
Hypopterygium tamarisci complex (Hypopterygiaceae, Bryopsida): implications
of molecular
and morphological data. Journal of the Hattori Botanical Laboratory
89: 55-70. A small southern hemisphere genus of 2 species. One species, Lopidium struthiopteris (Brid.) M.Fleisch., occurs in sub-Saharan Africa, including the East African Islands; also widespread in SE Asia, and in tropical Australia and Pacific Ocean islands. The other species, L. concinnum (Hook.) Wilson, is found in southern S. America, Tasmania and New Zealand. Plants usually
gregarious, medium sized to somewhat large, forming loose tufts,
rather dark green to yellow or light golden-brown. Stipes erect
or perpendicular to substrate, with or without central strand (strand
lacking in rachis and
branches), stipe leaves increasing in size distally. Fronds ovate-triangular,
2-8 cm tall/long,
branching pinnate or sparsely bipinnate; foliation of main axis and branches
complanate. Leaves closely set, dimorphic, in 3 ranks, two
lateral and one ventral (underleaves). Lateral leaves of main
axis asymmetrical, ovate to oblong-ovate,
1.5-2.2 mm long, dorsally convex, apex shortly acuminate, base short decurrent,
clasping the stem on ventral side; margins serrate distally, serrulation extending
further down on acroscopic side; costa strong, often flexuose, shortly excurrent;
underleaves of main axis broadly ovate, the basal part often abruptly expanded,
costa excurrent. Lateral leaves of branches narrower than
on main axis, ovate-oblong, margins often sharply serrate; costa disappearing
near apex or excurrent; underleaves
of branches symmetrical, smaller than on main axis, narrowly triangular or
-lanceolate. Cells rather uniform, irregularly rounded,
incrassate, basal cells in 2-4 rows,
oblong, strongly porose; marginal border cells linear, thick-walled, porose. Dioicous. Perichaetia situated
in distal half of rachis, sporophytes up to 4 per frond. Seta 4
mm or more long. Capsule barrel-shaped or cylindrical.
Peristome with exostome teeth striate distally,
becoming papillose above; endostome papillose, basal membrane low. Lopidium struthiopteris (Brid.) M.Fleisch. Q: habit, ventral view (some branches removed, some underleaves not shown). R: lateral stem leaves. S: underleaves of stem. T: lateral leaves of branch. U: underleaves of branch. V: portion of stem. W: margin of lateral leaf. X: median cells of lateral leaf. Y: apex of lateral leaf. HABITAT. In wet to dry places in forests or sometimes open woodland, in shade or partial shade, occasionally in unshaded places. Usually epiphytic on tree trunks, also on branches, on saplings and shrubs, on rocks, sometimes on rotting logs, rarely terrestrial; 300-3000 m. DISCUSSION. Lopidium struthiopteris is easily distinguished by the pinnate or bipinnate, oblong-triangular fronds, the presence of underleaves, the excurrent costa of leaves and underleaves, and a central strand lacking in rachis and branches. LITERATURE.
Kruijer, H. 1997. - (see family references). Kruijer,
H. 2002. -
(see family references). Magill, R.E. & Van Rooy, J. 1998. Bryophyta. Part
1. Musci. Fascicle 3. Erpodiaceae - Hookeriaceae, In: O.A.Leistner, Flora of
Southern Africa. Pretoria: National Botanical Institute, pp. 617-618. Click here for pdf file submitted 26.08.2006 |
