Plagiochila punctata (Taylor) Taylor

London Journal of Botany 5: 261 (1846).

Plagiochila germani Steph., Bulletin de l’Herbier Boissier, sér. 2, 5: 938 (1905); Stephani, Icones Ineditae 11480. — Type: Guadeloupe, Germain s.n., ex hb. l’Herminier (holo-, G[G00067838!], c. gyn. & andr.), syn. nov.

Remarks

Plagiochila punctata is a widespread species of tropical America, East Africa and western Europe (Heinrichs et al. 2005) that had not yet been recorded from Guadeloupe. The type material of P. germani, containing P. punctata in a mixture with P. gymnocalycina (Lehm. & Lindenb.) Mont., fits Stephani’s illustration (Icones Ined. 11701) very well but the type label is confusing, stating “ Plag. herminieri St. sub Pl. germani G[ottsche] ms, Guadeloupe, l’Herminier”. The material is not copious but contains well-developed male and female plants of P. punctata, with the characteristic denuded branches due to leaves dropping off. The leaves are transverse, small, ovate, with a conspicuous vitta-like area at the base and 3-4 teeth on the margins (2 near the apex and 1-2 on the ventral margin), and the leaf cells have large trigones. The species is close to P. bifaria but the latter is a more robust plant with more numerous teeth on leaf margins and without caducous leaves.