Cheilolejeunea norisiae Dauphin & Gradstein (2003: 259)

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 : 101

20. Cheilolejeunea norisiae Dauphin & Gradstein (2003: 259) .

Type:— PANAMA. Panamá: Cerro Azul, Sendero El Cantar, open secondary growth area next to forested area, 9°12’57”N, 79°24’32”W, 800–900 m, 20 March 1996, G. Dauphin 96-23 (holotype PMA!).— Fig. 12 AA –EE.

Plants yellowish green, in herbarium material light brown, ca. 0.8 mm wide. Stems in cross section 50 µm in diameter, 7 epidermal cells and 9 medullary cells. Ventral merophytes 2 cells wide. Leaves subimbricate, ovate, flat, 170–190 × 230–300 µm; margin ciliate-crenate, apex acute-laciniate, dorsal and ventral margins curve; cells hexagonal, papillose on the dorsal side, conspicuous trigones; basal cells 16–28 × 10–11 µm, median cells 18–20 × 12–17 µm, marginal cells 10–17 × 1–16 µm. Lobules rectangular, inflated, 1/3–1/2 of leaf length, free margin involute, apical tooth short, formed by 2–3 rectangular cells, 18 × 10 µm, keel arched and strongly papillose. Underleaves distant, orbicular to ovate, 125–135 × 105–110 µm, 1.5–2 × stem width, bifid to 1/4–1/3, V-shaped sinus, margin entire, base cuneate. Reproductive structures not seen.

Distribution and habitat:— Panama and Cuba ( Mustelier-Martinez 2012). This species grows as an epiphyte on tree trunks in the study area, near streams, between 700–1000 m, in lower montane rainforests, in the GuatusoTalamanca and Puntarenas-Chiriquí provinces of the Pacific dominion ( Dauphin & Gradstein 2003, Schäfer-Verwimp 2014) ( Fig. 13 ).

Comments: —Ciliate-crenate margins are characteristic of this species, making it easily identifiable, together with characteristics such as the ventral merophyte only 2 cells wide, and lobule keel strongly papillose.

Figures

FIGURE 12. Cheilolejeunea laevicalyx A-B. Cladographs of fertile plants (solid ellipse = androecia, open ellipse = gynoecia with perianth); C. Shoot with gynoecia in ventral view; D. Shoot section in ventral view; E. Ventral merophyte; F. Leaf and lobule; G. Lobule; H. Underleaf; I. Leaf lobe cells with trigones; Cheilolejeunea lineata J-K. Cladographs of fertile plants (solid ellipse = androecia, open ellipse = gynoecia with perianth, U= gynoecia without perianth); L. Shoot section in ventral view; M. Ventral merophyte and underleaves; N. Leaf and lobule; O. Lobule; P. Border leaf cells; Q. Underleaf; R. Leaf lobe cells with trigones. Cheilolejeunea lobulata S. Cladograph of fertile plants (solid ellipse = androecia, open ellipse = gynoecia with perianth, U= gynoecia without perianth); T. Shoot with gynoecia in ventral view; U. Perianth; V. Shoot with androecia W. Ventral merophyte; X. Apex of lobule; Y. Underleaves; Z. Leaf lobe cells with trigones. Cheilolejeunea norisiae AA. Shoot section in ventral view; BB. Ventral merophyte; CC. Leaf and lobule; DD. Underleaves; EE. Leaf lobe cells with trigones.

FIGURE 13. Distribution of Cheilolejeunea laevicalyx, C. lineata, C. lobulata, C. norisiae, and C. ornata in Pacific dominion and Páramo province.