Colura stotleri J.C. Benavides, L.V. Campos & Uribe, 2020

Benavides, Juan Carlos, Campos, Laura Victoria & Uribe, Jaime, 2020, A new terrestrial species of Colura (Marchantiophyta: Lejeuneaceae) at tropical high elevations (Boyacá, Colombia), Cryptogamie, Bryologie 20 (12), pp. 141-145 : 142

Colura stotleri J.C. Benavides, L.V. Campos & Uribe , sp. nov.

( Fig. 1 )

HOLOTYPUS. — Colombia. Boyacá, Guican, Sierra Nevada del Cocuy, Sendero Laguna de los Tempanos. 6.4802N.; 72.2806W. 4700 m; 08.I.2010, J.C. Benavides 4719 (holo-, COL[COL574955]).

ISOTYPUS. — Colombia. Boyacá, Sierra Nevada del Cocuy, Sendero Laguna de Los Tempanos, 6.4802N.- 72.2806W. 4700 m; 08.I.2010, J.C. Benavides 4720 (COL[COL574956]).

ETYMOLOGY. — The new species is dedicated to Raymond Stotler in recognition to his work on liverwort systematics and taxonomy and as teachers of many bryologists at SIUC.

DISTRIBUTION. — Colura stotleri sp. nov. is known only from type locality at Sierra Nevada del Cocuy, in a stream fen with cushion plants ( Fig. 2D ) between the two streams on the south side of the complex.

DESCRIPTION

Colura stotleri sp. nov. differs from all other species in Sect. Oidocorys by its long and large perianth up to 8 mm long, and the number of cells in the valve 54-56.

Terrestrial, growing on peat, light yellow to gold-brown, growing in tufts. Shoots 0.7-1 cm long and 1.7-2 mm wide with imbricate leaves at apex and slightly distant below. Stem 120-170 µm wide, ventral merophyte three cells wide. Leaves ovate 0.8-1.1 mm long and 0.6-0.8 mm wide. Stem leaves 1.4-1.5 mm long, 0.90-0.93 mm wide. Lobes and lobules of equal size, the lobule forming an ovate-shaped sac surrounding the lobe, free margin of lobe lacking. Leaf margin entire, corresponding to the union between lobe and lobule. Valve ovate, medium sized, 162 µm long and 100 µm wide, hinge of two cells, number of median valve cells can be 54-56 and that of surrounding hyaline cells 20-24, Median valve cells more than two. Leaf cells smooth throughout the leaf, apical cells subquadrate 22 × 25 µm, median cells quadrate 17-20 × 15-17 µm, and basal cells subquadrate 23 × 17-25 µm. Cell walls thin and lacking thickenings and trigones. Underleaves V-shaped with segments diverging at approximately 45°, 790 µm long with segments 350 µm long each ending in a hyaline papilla, with 4-5 uniseriate cells at apex. Underleaf insertion straight, 3 cells long. Cells from underleaf segments subquadrate to rectangular (20) 30 × 50 µm. Gemmae lacking. Androecia unknown. Perianths frequent, elongated, 7.5-8.0 mm long, 1.5-2.0 mm wide. Mouth papillose, with 4-5 short horns

Figures

FIG. 1. — Colura stotleri sp.nov. A, sporophyte; B, stem leaf; C, underleaf;D, sporophyte, apical part; E, valve with hinge cells; F, hinge cells and hyaline papilla. Drawn from holotype. Scale bars: A, 1600 µm; B, 200 µm; C, 150 µm; D, 900 µm; E, F, 50 µm.

FIG. 2. — Colura stotleri sp. nov.A, ventral view of plant,showing an underleaf;B, stem leaf; C, stem leaf, showing inflated lobule; D, Habitat, Valle de los cojines, PNN sierra Nevada del Cocuy. Scale bars: A, 190 µm; B, C, 240 µm.