Cheilolejeunea beyrichii (Lindenberg) Reiner (2006: 474)

Gil-Novoa, Jorge Enrique & Costa, Denise Pinheiro, 2023, Synopsis of the species of Cheilolejeunea (Marchantiophyta, Lejeuneaceae) in the Pacific dominion and Páramo province of tropical America, Phytotaxa 587 (2), pp. 73-120 : 85-86

6. Cheilolejeunea beyrichii (Lindenberg) Reiner (2006: 474) .—

Lejeunea beyrichii Lindenberg (in Gottsche et al. 1845: 371).

Type:— BRAZIL. Rio de Janeiro: Serra da Estrela, Beyrich s.n. (holotype W, isotype G-53144).— Fig. 4O–U .

Plants light brown to green, 1.5–1.6 mm wide. Stems in cross section 100–115 µm in diameter, (7–)8 epidermal cells, 17–26 × 8.5–13.5 µm, (9)11–15 medullary cells, 9–16 × 5–11 µm. Ventral merophytes 4–6 cells wide. Leaves subimbricate, ovate-elongated, flat to slightly recurved at the apex, 840–860 × 580–600 µm; margin entire, apex obtuse, dorsal and ventral margin curved; cells orbicular to elongate, mammillose on the dorsal side, trigones large; basal cells 22–28 × 16–19 µm, median cells 17–30 × 13–20 µm, marginal cells 9–12 × 9–12 µm. Lobules small, 1/5 or less of leaf length, trapezoid, with a short tooth, free margin involute, keel straight. Underleaves subimbricate, reniform, 420–440 × 580–610 µm, 4.5–5 × stem width, short bifid, 1/4–1/5 of underleaf length, V-shaped sinus, lobules straight to connivent, margin entire, base cuneate to rounded. Autoicous. Androecia commonly terminal on the main stem or branch, 4–6 pairs of bracts. Gynoecia on branches, with pycnolejeuneoid innovations, bracts obovate, 700 × 550 µm, apex acute. Perianth 5-keeled, keels slightly to very strongly developed, beak short. Vegetative reproduction unknown.

Distribution and habitat:—Neotropical, occurring in Guatemala, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Perú, and Brazil ( Bastos 2017, Reiner-Drehwald 2006). This species grows in the study area as an epiphyte on tree trunks and rocks, in lower and upper montane rainforest, between 1000–2500 m, in the provinces Puntarenas-Chiriquí, GuatusoTalamanca, Choco-Darien, Magdalena, Cauca, and Guajira of the Pacific dominion.The record of C. beyrichii occurring in the Páramo ( Fig. 6 ), actually belongs to the Cauca province.

Notes:—This species can be recognized by having a ventral merophyte 4–6 cells wide, leaves ovate with an obtuse apex, and underleaves generally reniform, shortly bifid. Morphologically it is very similar to C. fragrantissima , which differs mainly by the ventral merophyte being 2 cells wide (vs 4-6 cells wide in C. beyrichii ) and the rounded leaf apex.

Specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Amazonas: Serra Curicuriari , 450 m, 00°20’S, 66°50’W, 9-12 July 1979, Schuster 79-15-791 ( NY) . COLOMBIA. Boyacá: Duitama , vereda “El Volcán”, 2200 m, 27 October 1988, Schuster 88-1008 ( COL) ; Santa María, Vereda Caño Negro , 4°51’32”N, 73°17’ 59”W, 1700–1800 m, 5 October 2003, Uribe-M. 4152 ( COL) . Cauca: Isla Gorgona , 26 November 1988, Schuster 88-1555 ( F) . Huila: Acevedo, Macizo Colombiano , 1°36’21”N, 76°6´16”W, 1800 m, 29 June 2001, Castillo 2461d, 2520g ( HUA) , 2466a, 2457d (COL). Santander: Charalá, corregimiento Virolín , 1725 m, 25 October 1988, Ireland 23511 ( NY) . ECUADOR: Zamora – Chinchipe: Valle del río San Francisco, Reserva Biológica San Francisco , 03°58’18”S, 79°04’14”W, 1800 m, May 2000, I. Holz 108, 196, 326, 356 ( QCA) ; Parque Nacional Podocarpus , 4°06-07’ S, 78°58-59’ W, 1250 m, 21 March 2012, SchaferVerwimp 33054 ( QCA) . VENEZUELA. Bolivar: Canaima National Park , 1000 m, 21 August 1987, Thiers 5175 ( NY) ; bosque alto húmedo montañoso, 1220–1275 m, 6–7 January 1964, Steyermark et al. 92797, 92800 ( NY) .

Figures

FIGURE 4. Cheilolejeunea asperrima A. Cladograph of fertile plants (open ellipse = gynoecia with perianth); B. Shoot section in ventral view; C. Ventral merophyte; D. Leaf and lobule; E. Lobule; F. Underleaf; G. Leaf lobe cells with distinct trigones. Cheilolejeunea aurifera H. Cladograph of fertile plants (solid ellipse = androecia, open ellipse = gynoecia with perianth); I. Shoot section in ventral view; J. Underleaf and merophyte; K. Leaf and lobule; L. Underleaf; M. Lobule; N. Leaf lobe cells. Cheilolejeunea beyrichii O. Cladograph of fertile plants (solid ellipse = androecia, open ellipse = gynoecia with perianth, U= gynoecia without perianth) P. Shoot section in ventral view; Q-R. Ventral merophyte; S. Lobule, T. Border leaf cells; U. Leaf lobe cells. Cheilolejeunea comans V-W. Cladographs of fertile plants (solid ellipse = androecia, open ellipse = gynoecia with perianth, U= gynoecia without perianth); X. Shoot section in ventral view; Y. Leaf and lobule, Z. Ventral merophyte; AA. Lobule, BB. Underleaf, CC. Leaf lobe cells.

FIGURE 6. Distribution of Cheilolejeunea beyrichii and C. comans in Pacific dominion and Páramo province.