Cheilolejeunea fragrantissima (Spruce) Schuster (1980a: 431)

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 : 94

12. Cheilolejeunea fragrantissima (Spruce) Schuster (1980a: 431) .—

Lejeunea fragrantissima Spruce (1884: 243) .

Type:— BRAZIL. Fl. Tarumá, Spruce s.n. (MANCH!, lectotype designated by Reiner-Drehwald 2006).— Fig. 7Z –GG.

Plants green brown to light brown, 0.9–1.5 mm wide. Stems in cross section 90–115 µm in diameter, (7–)8 epidermal cells, 17–26 × 8.5–13.5 µm; (9–)11–15 medullary cells, 9–16 × 5–11 µm. Ventral merophytes 2 cells wide. Leaves imbricate, ovate-orbicular, 500–530 × 380–400 µm; margin entire, apex rounded, dorsal and ventral margin curves; cells oblong to orbicular, conspicuous trigones; basal cells 19–31 × 14–20 µm, median cells 16–24 × 13–16 µm, marginal cells 9–1 × 9–11 µm. Lobules small, 1/5–1/4 of leaf length, rectangular, tooth acute, formed by two cells 11 × 28 µm, free margin involute, keel slightly arched. Underleaves imbricate, reniform, 380–400 × 630–650 µm, 6–7 × stem width, bifid to 1/4–1/5, margin entire, insertion in U-shaped. Autoicous. Androecia commonly on the main stem, or at the apex of branches, 4–6 pairs of bracts. Gynoecia on branches, with pycnolejeuneoid innovations, bracts obovate, 700 × 550 µm, with apex acute. Perianth 5-keeled, keels weak to very strong, beak short. Vegetative reproduction unknown.

Distribution and habitat: —Neotropical, occurring in Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Brazil ( Bastos 2017, Reiner-Drehwald 2006). This species was encountered growing on tree trunks and branches in lowland and lower montane rainforests, between 200–2200 m, in the Magdalena and Trinidad provinces of the Pacific dominion. The record of C. fragrantissima occurring in the Páramo ( Fig. 9 ), actually belongs to the Magdalena province.

Notes: —This species is very similar to C. beyrichii , but mainly differentiated by the leaves of C. fragrantissima having rounded apices, and a ventral merophyte 2 cells wide, while C. beyrichii has an obtuse leaf apex and a ventral merophyte 4–6 cells wide.

Specimens examined:— BRAZIL. Santa Catarina: S „o Francisco do Sul , CEPA , 5 m, 15 July 2005, Ziffer Berger 323 ( RB) . Amazonas: along the Rio Marié , 00°40’S, 66°45’W, 5 July 1979, Buck 2383 ( NY) . COLOMBIA. Antioquia: Guatapé, vereda Santa Rita , 6°14’N, 75°10’W, 1850 m, 25 July 1997, Gutiérrez 1336, 1348 ( HUA) . Boyacá: Santa María, 4°46’N, 73°19’W, 8 October 2000, Aguirre 12932 ( COL). Cundinamarca: Guayabetal, Vereda San Antonio, 9 June 2016, Clavijo 183 Z4 M3 ( COL). Santander : Floridablanca , Corregimiento La Corcova , 7°06’44”N, 73°01’48”W, 2200 m, August to November 2001, López 1502 ( HUA); Suaita, 1700–1800 m, 28 July 2001, Uribe-M 3767 ( COL); Tona, 7°10’29.2”N, 73°02’7.8”W, 1675–1715 m, 22 June 2004, Uribe-M 4291 ( COL). Meta: Acacías, vereda Frescovatele, 03°58’05.6’’ N, 73°49’47.21’’ W, 969 m, 3 December 2021, Gil-Novoa & Costa 3640 ( UPTC). Vaupés: Taraira, 0°33’34.90”S, 69°40’52.60”W, 213 m, 18 October 2017, Miranda RM205 / H8 ( UDBC). VENEZUELA. Bolivar: cerro Venamo, 950 m, 27 December 1963, Steyermark 92224 ( NY) .

Figures

FIGURE 7. Cheilolejeunea cuspidifera A. Shoot sections in ventral view; B. Perianth with bracts and bracteoles; C. Androecial stem; D- E. Leaves and lobules, F. Ventral merophyte, G. Apex of lobule, H. Underleaf, I. Leaf lobe cells. Cheilolejeunea discoidea J. Cladograph of fertile plants (solid ellipse = androecia, open ellipse = gynoecia with perianth, U= gynoecia without perianth), K. Shoot section in ventral view, L. Perianth with bracts and bracteole, M. Ventral merophyte, N. Leaf and lobule, O. Underleaf, P. Leaf lobe cells. Cheilolejeunea filiformis Q-R. Cladographs of fertile plants (solid ellipse = androecia, open ellipse = gynoecia with perianth), S. Shoot section in ventral view, T. Perianth with bracts and bracteoles, U. Portion of stem with androecium, V. Ventral merophyte and underleaf, X. Lobule, Y. Leaf lobe cells. Cheilolejeunea fragrantíssima Z. Cladograph of fertile plants (solid ellipse = androecia, open ellipse = gynoecia with perianth), AA. Portion of stem with perianth, BB. Portion of stem with androecium, CC. Ventral merophyte, DD. Leaf and lobule, EE. Lobule, FF. Underleaf, GG. Leaf lobe cells.

FIGURE 9. Distribution of Cheilolejeunea filiformis var. filiformis, C. filiformis var. platycoleus, C. filiformis var. wallissi and C. fragrantissima in Pacific dominion and Páramo province