Metzgeria furcata (Linnaeus 1753:, 1136) Corda, 1829

Sukkharak, Phiangphak & Chantanaorrapint, Sahut, 2020, The liverwort genus Metzgeria (Metzgeriaceae, Marchantiophyta) in Thailand, Phytotaxa 441 (3), pp. 251-262 : 254-255

2. Metzgeria furcata (L.) Corda (1829: 654) ( Fig. 2 )

Basionym: — Jungermannia furcata Linnaeus (1753: 1136) .

Type: —[icon.] “ Lichenastrum tenuifolium , furcatum, thecis globosis pilosis ” in Dillenius, Historia Muscorum t. 74, f. 45 A–C, FG (excl. DE). 1742 “1741” (lectotype designated by Grolle & So (2002) ( So 2003).

Thallus dioicous, up to 1 cm long, 0.4–0.7 mm wide, dichotomously branched, strongly appressed to the substrate, margins plane, pale green. Thallus apex obtuse. Hairs single, straight, sparse or lacking; single on ventral side of midrib. Midrib in cross section orbicular, 60–66 × 58–70 µm, composed of 2 cells wide on both dorsal and ventral sides, 6–10 medullary cells, dorsal and ventral epidermal cells 11–20 × 25–35 µm, medullary cells 11–13 × 10–20 µm. Wing 6–17 cells wide; marginal cells 28–50 × 13–23 μm, median cells 26–58 × 20–41 μm. Oil bodies homogenous, globose-shaped, 30–40 per cell. Antheridial branches not seen. Female involucres obovate, 0.2–0.3 × 0.2–0.3 mm, with hairs along margin and on outer surface. Sporophyte not seen. Gemmae not seen.

Additional illustrations: — Arnell (1953: Fig. 11 as M. marionensis ); Kuwahara (1958: Figs. I1 , II6, III; Figs. II13–14, V1–9 as M. quadriseriata ; 1960: Fig. 7a–h as M. innovans , Fig. 8a–i as M. molokaiensis , Fig. 8p–u as M. densiseta , Fig. 9i–o as M. pauciseta , Fig. 10a–g as M. caledonica , Fig. 10h–j as M. quadriseriata ; 1966: Figs. 11d, 21e–g as M. decipiens , Fig. 19d–g as M. campbelliensis ; 1968a: Fig. 5 as M. philippinensis ; 1968b: Fig. a–p as M. orientalis ; 1968c: Figs. 7–15 as M. grollei ; 1975: Fig. V as M. mitrata ; 1976: Fig. 15 as M. thomeensis ; 1980: Figs. 27–45 as M. vittii ; 1987: Figs. 17–31 as M. crassipiginula ); Piippo (1991: Fig. 8g –i as M. decipiens , Fig. 10a–b as M. innovans ); Srivastava & Udar (1975: Fig. XIX as M. crispula ); Stephani (1985: Icon. n. 7562 as M. perrotana , n. 7567 as M. tabularis , n. 7568 as M. thomeensis , n. 7577 as M. glaberrima , n. 7640 as M. caledonica , n. 7647 as M. densiseta , n. 7658 as M. innovans , n. 7666 as M. lutescens , n. 7668 as M. mauina , n. 7674 as M. planifrons , n. 7689 as M. pauciseta , n. 7690 as M. pinnata ); Costa (2008: Fig. 43).

Ecology: —In Thailand, Metzgeria furcata is found on tree trunks and rock in evergreen forest along stream, hill evergreen forest, and evergreen seasonal hardwood with pine forest at altitude between 700 and 1685 m.

Specimens examined: — THAILAND. Chiang Mai: Chiang Dao Mt. , 27 October 2017, Sukkharak 98/1189, 114/1193, 115/1195, 121/1197 (hb. Burapha Univ.) ; 28 October 2017, Sukkharak 170/1213, 171/1213, 206/1231 (hb. Burapha Univ.).— Doi Pui, Plot 2, Quadrate 12, No. 8, 6 May 2009, Printarakul 541, 640 ( CMUB). Chanthaburi: Khao Soi Dao Wildlife Sanctuary, 8 April 2012, Kitlap, Likananon & Sukkharak 140, 225 (Hb. Burapha Univ.). Prachinburi: Khao Yai, 14°30’ N 101°30’ E, 16 February 1966, Touw 12043 ( BKF). Nakhon Si Thammarat: Khao Luang, 8°30’ N 99°45’ E, 7 February 1966, Touw 11982 ( BKF).—Khao Nan National Park, Khao Nan Yai, 15 March 2006, Sukkharak 292 ( BCU) .

Distribution: —Worldwide ( So 2003; Costa 2008).

Notes: — Metzgeria furcata may be confused with M. lindbergii . The differences, however, are discussed under the latter species. In addition, M. furcata is morphologically similar to M. consanguinea but the latter species has broader thallus (0.8–1.3 mm wide) with attenuated and obtuse gemma-bearing apices.

Figures

FIGURE 1. Metzgeria consanguinea. A. Part of thallus with attenuated apex and gemma, dorsal view; g = gemma. B. Part of thallus with attenuated apex and gemma, ventral view; g = gemma. C. Part of thallus with obtuse apices, dorsal view. D. Part of thallus with obtuse apices, ventral view. E. Part of female thallus with involucres, ventral view. F. Marginal cells of wing and hairs, ventral view. G. Median cells of wing, dorsal view. H. Midrib and median cells of wing, dorsal view. I. Cross section of thallus. [A–E, G–I from Sukkharak 202/1230 (hb. Burapha Univ.); F from Sukkharak 168/1212 (hb. Burapha Univ.)].

FIGURE 2. Metzgeria furcata. A. Part of thallus, dorsal view. B. Part of thallus, ventral view. C. Part of female thallus with involucres and adventitious shoot, ventral view; a = adventitious shoot. D. Marginal cells of wing and hairs, ventral view. E. Median cells of wing, dorsal view. F. Midrib and median cells of wing, dorsal view. G. Cross section of thallus [All from Sukkharak 121/1197 (hb. Burapha Univ.)].

FIGURE 5. Metzgeria lindbergii. A. Part of thallus, dorsal view; B. Part of thallus, ventral view. C. Part of thallus with antheridial branches, involucres, calyptra, and sporophyte, ventral view. D. Marginal cells of wing and hairs, ventral view. E. Median cells of wing, dorsal view. F. Midrib and median cells of wing, dorsal view. G. Cross section of midrib. H. Elaters. [All from Sukkharak 161/1210 (hb. Burapha Univ.)].