Groutiella apiculata (Hook.) H.A. Crum & Steere

Yu, Ning-Ning & Jia, Yu, 2023, A world revisionary study of the genus Groutiella Steere (Orthotrichaceae, Bryopsida), Cryptogamie, Bryologie 20 (7), pp. 161-182 : 162-166

Groutiella apiculata (Hook.) H.A. Crum & Steere

( Figs 4 ; 5 )

The Bryologist 53: 146 ( Crum & Steere 1950).

Macromitrium wagnerianum Müll. Hal. , Synopsis Muscorum Frondosorum omnium hucusque Cognitorum 2: 642 ( Müller 1851).

— Craspedophyllum wagnerianum (Müll. Hal.) Grout , North American Flora 15 A: 41 ( Grout 1946).

— Groutiella wagneriana (Müll. Hal.) H.A. Crum & Steere , The Bryologist 53: 146 ( Crum & Steere 1950).

— Type: Venezuela. Galipan, ad arbores in 4000 m alt., VIII.1849, Wagner s.n. (syn-, NY!), syn. nov.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED. — Belize. Belize, Tropical Education Center, Allen 17979 (MO) ; Cayo, Southern Maya Mountains, Gradstein & Weber M-157, Allen 15537, 15054, 15454, 15136 (MO) .

Toledo. Bladen Nature Reserve, Whittemore et al. 6414 (MO) ; Columbia River Forest Reserve, Whittemore et al. 6475 (MO) .

Brazil. Bahia, Itabuna, Vital 8682 (MO); “Estado de Rio Janeiro,” E. ULE. 2183 (HBG).

Colombia. Magdalena, Santa Marta Municipio, Steere 4582 (MO); Nariño, Río Guisa, Ramírez et al. 8.868 (MO).

Costa Rica. Alajuela, Wasum 9322, Holz CR 99-1436 (MO); Guanacaste, Parque Nacional Guanacaste Estación Cacao, Chávez 466, Chávez 254 (MO).

Cuba. Autilles, Adjuntas, 1886, Sintenio s.n. (NSW); s.l., from herb. W. Mönkemeyer, Wright s.n. (HBG); Santiago, Gran Pieder, 1980, T. Pócs & M. Aluff 9197/E (F).

Dominica. El Seibo, Cordillera Oriental, Reese 15542 (MO); St. Paul, Hegewald 9543 (MO).

Ecuador. Galapagos, Santa Cruz Gantón, Weber B-13672 (MO).

Guadeloupe. Sur un muret, St-Claude, Gallo 828 (MO).

French Guiana. St-Laurent-du-Maroni, Eaux Claires, Buck 18576 (MO).

Honduras. Copán, Copán Ruinas, Allen 17717 (MO).

Jamaica. Manchester, near Banana Ground, Crosby 1343 (MO); Portland, 7 mi NW of Muirton on road to Ecclesdown, Crosby 13717 (MO); St. Ann, along road between Alderton and Alexandria, Crosby 2902 (MO); Moneague, Crosby 2870 (MO); St. Thomas, Winchester Peak, Crosby 3343 (MO).

Mexico. Prope Xalapam in Regno Mexicano, regione temperata, Humboldt & Bonpland s.n. (iso-lecto-, E).

Nicaragua. Matagalpa, Hamonia, I. Granzow de la Cerda 11611 (MO); Chiriqui,Fortuna dam site, Folsom et al. 5615 (MO); Colon, Santa Rita Ridge, Crosby 10366 (MO).

Panamá. Cerro Campana, Crosby 4507 (MO).

Puerto Rico. Barranquitas, La Torricilla, Steere 4582 (MO); Cayey, Guavata Purchase Unit, Steere 4760 (MO) ; Coamo, Río de la Mina, Steere 4059 (MO) ; Las Piedras, Luquillo Mountains, Price 826 (MO) ; Schwaneke s.n. (HBG) ; Maricao, Reserva Forestal Maricao, Reese 14523, Steere 5561 (MO) ; Naguabo, Barrio De Maizales, Britton 3052 (MO) ; Río Grande, Price 920 (MO) ; San Lorenzo, Steere 6792 (MO) ; El Verde, Steere 6282 (MO) ; Villalba, Cordillera Central, Steere 5996 (MO) ; “Plantae Portoricenses”, P. Sintenis F131, F90 (HBG).

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. St. Vincent, Mount St. Andrew, Rev. Lansdown Guilding s.n. (isosyntype of G. mucronifolia , E).

Suriname. Brokopondo, Brownsweg, Allen 19386 (MO) ; Paramaribo, Paramaribo, Price 371 (MO, NSW) ; s.l., Weigelt 1827 (HBG).

Trinidad and Tobago. St. Andrew, Manzanilla, Crosby 2059 (MO) ; Trinidad, Sieber s.n. (holotype of Macromitrium brevipes , G).

Venezuela. Galipan, ad arbores in 4000 m alt., VIII.1849, Wagner s.n. (syntype of G. wagneriana, NY !) .

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT. — The tropical region of America, north to Mexico, south to Brazil. On bark of tree trunks and branches, rotten logs and rocks; 250-1400 m.

DESCRIPTION

For description, see Hooker 1818; Schwägrichen 1826; Grout 1946; Bartram 1949; Florschütz-de 1964; Vitt 1994; Allen 2002.

COMMENTS

The relationship of Groutiella apiculata (Hook.) H.A. Crum & Steere and G. mucronifolia (Hook. & Grev.) H.A. Crum & Steere had been discussed many times. Grout (1944, 1946) stated the apex and theheight of marginal border were the main distinctions between them. Florschütz-de (1964) mentioned the shape of the apex was rather variable. The longer branches (1-3 cm) and stronger, more distinct marginal border were the only differentiating characters of the two species. Crosby (1970) stated the populations which usually referred to two species could not be separated based on the variability in length of branches, leaf apex morphology and height of marginal borders. He concluded that all the specimens studied were G. mucronifolia , while the type specimen of G. apiculata is beyond the variation of other specimens and treated as a separate species. Based on the examination of type specimens of G. apiculata , according to the characters of leaf shape, costa, leaf apex and habit in dry conditions, Vitt (1979) considered them to be synonymous. Allen (2002) confirmed the similarity of the two species on gametophyte grounds, while he separated them by sporophytic characters, such as the length of setae, the feature of the peristome and spores.

Having examined type specimens and more than 50 non-type specimens, we have concluded that it is difficult to separate the two species by characters of gametophyte, as well as the sporophyte. The length of setae overlaps, and the length and shape of capsules change due to different period of maturity and environmental conditions. In addition, sometimes the two kinds of capsules are observed on the same specimen. The SEM observation also shows that the spores of G. mucronifolia are consistent with the feature of G. apiculata . In summary, we accept Vitt’s treatment regarding these two species that G. mucronifolia is a synonym of G. apiculata .

Groutiella wagneriana , a South American species, was synonymized with G. chimborazensis (Spruce ex Mitt.) Florsch. by Grout (1946), followed by Bartram (1949) and Crum & Bartram (1958). Florschütz-de (1964) presumed that the specimens checked by Grout might not be the original material of G. wagneriana , and he considered that the type specimen was somewhat obtuse, mucronate-apiculate, rugose leaves, more similar to G. obtusa than to G. chimborazensis . Vitt (1994) considered G. wagneriana close to G. apiculata , based on the shape of leaves, apex morphology and features of the sporophyte.

The type specimens of G. wagneriana (Wagner s.n., syn-, NY) are indistinguishable from G. apiculata . The lingulate leaves, obtuse apices with excurrent costa and the height of basal marginal border are all consistent to G. apiculata . Some of the leaves are rugose as mentioned in Florschütz-de (1964). However, the leaves are lightly rugose, quite similar to the leaves of a few G. apiculata specimens (e.g. T. Pócs & M. Aluff 9197/E, P. Sintenis F131). It is noteworthy that the basal branch leaves with acute apices are similar to G. chimborazensis . Examining the middle and upper branch leaves are essential to identify specimens properly.

The diagnostic characters of Groutiella apiculata are lingulate leaves with obtuse leaf apices and stoutly excurrent costa. The ratio of leaf length and width could be from 3.5 (e.g. Griffin 334, Allen 17717) to 6 (e.g. Crosby 4507a, Britton 3052). The apiculus made by the stoutly excurrent costa could be much longer, up to 130µm (e.g. C. Le Gallo 828, Carlos Chávos 466), or very short to 40 µm (e.g. Crosby 3343, Vital 8682).

Groutiella tumidula and G. obtusa are the only other species with lingulate leaves and obtuse apices in the genus. The leaves of G. obtusa are rugose above, which is easy to distinguish.While the leaves of G. tumidula (the ratio of leaf length and width is from 2.2 to3.4) are much broader and shorter than G. apiculata (the ratio of leaf length and width is above 3.5), and the costa ends below the tip orpercurrent, not extending into the apiculus, which is different from the stoutly excurrent costa of G. apiculata . Meanwhile, G. tumidula has a much shorter apiculus (always less than 30 µm) than G. apiculata (apiculus 40-120 µm).

Figures

FIG. 4. ― Groutiella apiculata (Hook.) H.A. Crum & Steere: A, habit; B-F, leaves; G-H, apical leaf cells; I, medical and basal leaf cells with margin; J, portion of peristome; K, spores. A from Allen 14033B (MO); B, D from Allen 15136 (MO); C from Allen 17979 (MO); E, G from Chávez 254 (MO); F, H, I from Allen 19386 (MO); K from Steere 6792 (MO). Scale bar: A, 2 mm; B-F, 0.5 mm; G, H, 80 µm; I, 100 µm; J, K, 50 µm. Credits: Yu N.-N.

FIG. 5. ― Groutiella apiculata (Hook.) H.A. Crum & Steere: A, plant when dry; B, plant when wet; C-G, leaves; H, apical leaf cells; I, marginal leaf cells. All from Wagner s.n. (NY), syntype of G. wagneriana (Müll. Hal.) H.A. Crum & Steere. Scale bar: A, 0.6 cm; B, 4.5 mm; C-G, 0.7 mm; H, 53 µm; I, 105 µm. Credits: Yu N.-N.