Fissidens aristifer Brugg.

Bruggeman-Nannenga, Maria Alida, 2022, On the peristomes of the corticolous African species of Fissidens Hedw. (Fissidentaceae, Bryophyta), Cryptogamie, Bryologie 20 (2), pp. 9-36 : 14

Fissidens aristifer Brugg. -Nann.

( Fig. 4 )

Fissidens aristifer is characterized by the apices of the perichaetial leaves being asymmetrical with long excurrent costae, mammillose laminal cells, limbidia restricted to the vaginant laminae of distal leaves of perichaetial stems, numerous budlike, axillary perigonia just below the terminal perigonium, archegonia terminal on branches as well as on main stems, short setae, narrow, cylindrical thecae and anomalous, peristomes with teeth that are (almost) completely divided and have “spiral” filaments. Growing between mosses and liverworts on bark of small tree.

Peristome

This species has deeply divided peristome teeth, undivided part ±4 cells tall on OPL side with distinct trabeculae and smooth or almost smooth lamellae, filaments “spiral”. The teeth are 100-240 µm long and the tooth base is 33-41 µm wide. When moistened the teeth promptly straighten.

Ornamentation

In the OPL three zones can be distinguished: an undivided part with smooth trabeculae and lamellae, a bifurcation with low smooth trabeculae and variously ornamented lamellae, papillose ( Fig. 4F ) to vertically striate ( Fig. 4D ); in the IPL two zones are distinguishable ( Fig. 4B ), the undivided part with high, papillose trabeculae and the filaments; filaments terete, “spiral” ( Fig. 4E ).

Sporophyte

Seta 0.9-1.5 mm, ±smooth; capsule cylindrical, 0.6-0.9 × 0.25- 0.45 with exothecial cell columns ± 32, the cells oblong with thickened vertical walls; operculum bluntly rostrate, 0.35 mm, spores 18.5-22.5 µm long (in type), 21.0-29.5 µm (in Pócs 6991/F), papillose.

Description and illustration

Bruggeman-Nannenga (2009: fig.2); Bruggeman-Nannenga & Arts (2010: fig. 20).

Remark

Peristomes of this species vary in ornamentation. The above description is from the type specimen.

Figures

FIG. 4. — Peristome of Fissidens aristifer Brugg.-Nann. A, spores germinating in capsule; B, IPl of undivided part showing papillose trabeculae and ±smooth lamellae; more distally the high, oblique ornamentation of the filament is seen; C, side view showing double protruding trabeculae (on the left) and vertical walls of the OPL; D, detail of F showing delicate vertical lamellar ornamentation of the OPL; E, filaments, in the left filament the border between IPl and OPl clearly visible; F, OPL of two teeth. A, C from La Réunion, Jacques Payet, Sentier du Volcan, Arts RÉU 153/30, BR, private herbarium Bruggeman-Nannenga; B, D-F from type: Madagascar, Ambatofitorahana, Onraedt 70.M.0453,BR: BR-BRY 238507 – 81. Scale bars: B, E, F, 20 µm; C, D, 10 µm.