Fissidens jonesii, BIZOT EX POCS

Bruggeman-Nannenga, Maria Alida, 2022, Five new species of Fissidens Hedw. (Fissidentaceae, Bryophyta), taxonomic notes and a new species record for South Africa, Cryptogamie, Bryologie 20 (3), pp. 37-49 : 46-48

REINSTATEMENT FISSIDENS JONESII BIZOT EX PÓCS

Bruggeman-Nannenga (2009) considered Fissidens jonesii as a synonym of F. lagenarius . Both species share mammillose laminal cells, axillary male buds, limbidia restricted to the (sub)perichaetial leaves, ±32 columns of exothecial cells around the capsule, and short setae, but their peristomes differ. Those of F. jonesii are wider (27-43 µm versus 18-30 µm in F. lagenarius ) and have a lamellar ornamentation that consists of a neat pattern of parallel, vertical ridges stretching from trabecula to trabecula ( Fig. 6I ), whereas the teeth of F. lagenarius show an irregular pattern of wavy vertical to oblique ridges ( Fig. 6J ). More elaborate descriptions and illustrations of these peristomes can be found in Bruggeman-Nannenga (2022: figs 10, 11). Because of the different peristomes, F. jonesii is here reinstated as a distinct species.

The two species are best distinguished by their peristomes. Furthermore, they have a different substrate preference, Fissidens jonesii is restricted to tree ferns, F. lagenarius is known from branches, trunks and rotting wood.

Description of Fissidens jonesii

A brief diagnosis ( Bizot 1974) is the only published description of Fissidens jonesii . Therefore, a complete description and illustration are supplied here:

Figures

FIG. 6. — Fissidens jonesii Bizot ex Pócs and F. lagenarius Mitt. A-I, F. jonesii: A, detached perichaetial branch; B, detached branch with perichaetial branch, perigonial buds and long perigonial branch; C, sporophytic stem; D, leaf; E, leaf apex; F, apex of perichaetial leaf; G, mid leaf; H, insertion leaf; I, exterior side peristome tooth. J, F. lagenarius, exterior side of peristome teeth. A-E, G-H from Pócs 86114/B; F from Pócs 8616/F; I from Pócs 6372/CA; J from Brazil, São Paulo, Yano 235. Scale bars: A-C, 1 mm; D, 0.5 mm; E-H, 100 µm; I, J, 20 µm.