Heteroscyphus splendens (Lehm. & Lindenb.) Grolle

(Fig. 18)

Acta Botanica Fennica 125: 68 (Grolle & Piippo 1984). — Jungermannia splendens Lehm. & Lindenb., Novarum et Minus Cognitarum Stirpium Pugillus 4: 22 (Lehmann 1832).

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Type: India (‘India orientalis’). Wallich (lecto-, selected byGrolle [1984], S), not seen.

Chiloscyphus decurrens Nees, Synopsis Hepaticarum: 173 (Gottsche et al. 1845). — Jungermannia decurrens Reinw., Blume & Nees, Nova Acta Physico-medica Academiae Caesareae Leopoldino-Carolinae Naturae Curiosorum Exhibentia Ephemerides sive Observationes Historias et Experimenta 12: 206 (Reinwardt et al. 1824).

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Type: Java. Blume s.n., not seen.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED. — New Caledonia. North Province, Poindimié, Amoa Valley, Twipadabwé, mixed with other liverworts on a rock in a river bank, volcano-sedimentary bedrocks, 211 m, 13.X.2019, Thouvenot NC2730 (PC [PC0779854]); Hienghène, Pwé Hwa Wéc river, on rocks on creek bank, 630 m, 19.IX.2019, Thouvenot NC2773; Gomen road, east slope of Mt. Ignambi, 600 m, 16.VIII.1951, Hürlimann 2830 as Chiloscyphus decurrens (GOET) . Java Occidental. Priangan, Gede-Prangango, c. 2800 m, VIII.1930, Verdoorn 2375 (PC [PC00035416]).

DISTRIBUTION IN NEW CALEDONIA. — In New Caledonia, this very distinctive species is only known from two localities in North Province.

TOTAL RANGE. — Paleotropical: from East Africa to Indonesia, Malaysia, Melanesia, South Pacific Islands (Hürlimann 1998).

DESCRIPTION

Based on the New Caledonian specimens. Further descriptions and illustrations in Piippo (1985).

Habit

Plants large, moist shoots c. 3.00 mm wide when flattened; leaves dorsally assurgent when dry, spreading when moist, subopposite, dorsal margins confluent.

Leaves

Oblong, c. 1.60 mm long, 1.40 mm wide at base, apices rounded-truncate, entire, ventral margins entire or with 1-2 small teeth near base, dorsal margin entire.

Cells

Median leaf cells 20-36 µm wide, lumina rounded to oval, trigones medium to large, acute.

Underleaves

Connate to the ventral margins of both nearest leaves, rounded to reniform, 0.80-1.00 mm long, 1.00- 1.20 mm wide, 4.5 times the stem width, apices rounded, shortly bifid, lobes narrowly triangular, sinus narrow, margins spinose toothed to shortly ciliate all around.

Gametangia

Gynoecia at the end of short lateral-intercalary branches, perianths cyathiform; androecia not seen.

COMMENTS

Heteroscyphus deplanchei and H. supinopsis superficially resemble H. splenden s but can easily be separated from the latter by the ornamentation of the underleaf margins, which are strongly laciniate in H. deplanchei and more remotely toothed in H. supinopsis (see below).