Cheilolejeunea quinquecarinata (Schuster) Ye et al. (2015: 326)

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 : 105

24. Cheilolejeunea quinquecarinata (Schuster) Ye et al. (2015: 326) .—

Aureolejeunea quinquecarinata Schuster (1978: 429) .

Type:— VENEZUELA. Tachira: Parque Nacional El Tamá, Base of Pico de Bandeiras; between Páramo and Mirador, R.M. Schuster & L. Ruíz-Terán 76-1921d (holotype F!).— Fig. 14R–Y .

Plants brown light, robust, 1.2–1.6 mm wide. Stems 110–150 µm in diameter in cross section. Ventral merophytes 2–3(–4) cells wide. Leaves imbricate, orbicular to ovate; leaf lobe ovate, strongly convex, especially at the apex, 900–1150 × 600–750 µm; margin entire, apex rounded; cells hexagonal elongated, mammillose on the dorsal side, conspicuous trigones; basal cells 15–20 × 10–14 µm, median cells 16–22x 10–16 µm, marginal cells 11–16 × 10–16 µm. Lobules rectangular, 1/3–1/2, free margin flat; first tooth generally not easily observed, formed by one cell, second tooth triangular, 1–3 cells long, 1–2 cells wide at the base; keel slightly curved. Underleaves contiguous to imbricate, orbicular to slightly reniform, 600–630 × 650–700 µm, 4–5.5 × stem width, undivided, margin slightly recurved, insertion U-shaped. Autoicous. Androecia on the principal stem or branches, 3–4 pairs of bracts. Gynoecia with 1–2 lejeuneoid innovations. Perianth with 5 keels, beak short. Vegetative reproduction unknown.

Distribution and habitat:—Neotropical, occurring in Dominican Republic, northern South America, and the Guayana Highlands ( Bastos & Gradstein 2020, Schäfer-Verwimp et al. 2013). The species grows in the study area as an epiphyte on the branches of shrubs, in upper montane rainforest, grass páramos, and shrub and cushion páramos, between 2260–4100 m, in the Cauca province of the Pacific dominion, and in the Páramo province of SATZ ( Fig. 16 ).

Notes: —The species is characterized by the robust, light brown plants with convex leaves with mammillose cells, ventral merophyte 2–3 cells wide, lobules rectangular and underleaves orbicular to reniform, with margins slightly recurved. Although the species is considered to occur almost exclusively in páramos vegetation, Schäfer-Verwimp et al. (2013) recorded it at 2500 m in Ecuador and here is recorded from 2268 m in Colombia.

Specimens examined:— COLOMBIA. Risaralda: Santa Rosa de Cabal , 4°48’09”N, 75°30’01”W, 3730 m, 22 July 1980, Aguirre-C, 1365 ( COL) . Santander: El Hato, 6°36’10.5”N, 73°21’38,1”W, 2268 m, 25 August 2017, Cuta 145, 507 ( UPTC) .

Figures

FIGURE 14. Cheilolejeunea ovalis A-B. Cladographs of fertile plants (solid ellipse = androecia, open ellipse = gynoecia with perianth) C. Shoot with androecia in ventral view; D. Portion shoot in ventral view E. Shoot with gynoecia in ventral view; F. Ventral merophyte; G. Underleaf; H. Leaf and lobule; I. Leaf lobe cells with trigones. Cheilolejeunea paramicola J-K. Cladographs of fertile plants (solid ellipse = androecia, open ellipse = gynoecia with perianth); L. Shoot with perianth in ventral view; M. Shoot with androecia in ventral view; N. Ventral merophyte; O. Leaf and lobule; P. Underleaf; Q. Leaf lobe cells with trigones. Cheilolejeunea quinquecarinata R. Cladograph of fertile plants (solid ellipse = androecia, open ellipse = gynoecia with perianth) S. Shoot with perianth in ventral view; T. Shoot with androecia in ventral view; U. Ventral merophyte; V. Leaf and lobule; W. Underleaf; X. Apex of lobule; Y. Leaf lobe cells with trigones. Cheilolejeunea revoluta Z-AA. Cladographs of fertile plants (solid ellipse = androecia, open ellipse = gynoecia with perianth) BB. Shoot with perianth in ventral view; CC. Ventral merophyte; DD. Leaf and lobule; EE. Underleaf. FF. Leaf lobe cells with trigones.

FIGURE 16. Distribution of Cheilolejeunea quinquiecarinata and C. revoluta in Pacific dominion and Páramo province