Cheilolejeunea schiavoneana Reiner & Gradstein (2017: 326)

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 : 109

27. Cheilolejeunea schiavoneana Reiner & Gradstein (2017: 326) .

Type:— COLOMBIA. Risaralda: western side of the Cordillera Occidental, municipio Mistrato, along the trail from Jeguadas to Puerto de Oro , ca. 5°45’N, 76°01’W, on canopy branches in submontane rainforest, 1200 m, 27 July 1992, S. R. Gradstein 8591 (holotype COL!; isotype GOET).— Fig. 17K–Q .

Plants yellowish green to light brown, 1.5–2.4 mm wide. Stems in cross section 150–200 µm in diameter. Ventral merophytes 3–6 cells wide. Leaves imbricate, ovate orbicular, flat, 260–380 × 340–430 µm, margin entire, apex rounded, dorsal and ventral margin curves; inconspicuous trigones; basal cells 18–30 × 20–38 µm, median cells 14– 25 × 25–42 µm, marginal cells 12–18 × 112–20 µm. Lobules ovate, ca. 1/5 of leaf length, free margin involute. Underleaves distant, orbicular to ovate, 320–470 × 350–550 µm, 2–3 × stem width, bifid to 1/2–1/3, with a V-shaped sinus, margin entire, base cuneate to rounded. Androecia and gynoecia not seen. Vegetative reproduction by caducous leaf lobes produced on upright flagelliform shoots with densely imbricate underleaves and with rhizoids on the leaf margins.

Distribution and habitat:—An endemic species of Western cordillera of Colombia, known only from the type collection. This species grows on canopy branches, in lower montane rainforest at 1200 m (Gradstein & ReinerDrehwald 2017), in the Cauca province of the Pacific dominion ( Fig. 18 ).

Notes:—Characterized by the relatively robust plants (1.5–2.4 mm wide) with orbicular leaves, ventral merophyte 3–6 cells wide, underleaves 2–3 × stem width, and vegetative reproduction by caducous leaf lobes produced on upright flagelliform shoots and with rhizoids on their margins. Male and female structures are unknown. Because it grows in tree canopies, the species may have been overlooked.

This species is considered here as Data Deficient-new (DD-n) ( Sérgio et al. 2007, UCN 2001), and we recommend increased sampling in tree canopies in the western cordillera of Colombia.

Figures

FIGURE 17. Cheilolejeunea rigidula A-B. Cladographs of fertile plants (solid ellipse = androecia, open ellipse = gynoecia with perianth, U= gynoecia without perianth); C. Shoot with androecia in ventral view; D. Perianth with bracts and bracteole; E. Shoot in ventral view; F. Ventral merophyte with underleaves; G. Leaf and lobule; H. Lobule; I. Underleaf; J. Leaf lobe cells with trigones. Cheilolejeunea schiavoneana K. Shoot in ventral view; L. Shoot in ventral view with caducous leaves; M. Ventral merophyte; N. Leaf and lobule; O. Lobule; P. Underleaf; Q. Leaf lobe cells with trigones. Cheilolejeunea tonduzana R. Cladograph of fertile plants (solid ellipse = androecia, open ellipse = gynoecia with perianth, U= gynoecia without perianth); S. Shoot with perianth in ventral view; T. Ventral merophyte; U. Leaf and lobule; V. Lobule; W. Underleaf; X. Leaf lobe cells with trigones. Cheilolejeunea trifaria var. trifaria Y-Z. Cladographs of fertile plants (solid ellipse = androecia, open ellipse = gynoecia with perianth, U= gynoecia without perianth); AA. Shoot with perianths and androecia in ventral view BB. Perianth in ventral view; CC. Shoot with androecium in ventral view; DD. Ventral merophyte; EE. Leaf and lobule; FF. Lobule; GG. Underleaf; HH. Leaf lobe cells with trigones.

FIGURE 18. Distribution of Cheilolejeunea rigidula and C. schiavoneana in Pacific dominion.