Saccogyna viticulosa (L.) Dumort.

Osman, Imen Ben, Hugonnot, Vincent, Muller, Serge D. & Daoud-Bouattour, Amina, 2021, Four bryophytes collected in Tunisia, new for mainland Africa, Cryptogamie, Bryologie 20 (16), pp. 213-219 : 216

Saccogyna viticulosa (L.) Dumort.

SPECIMEN EXAMINED. — Tunisia, Kroumiria, Jendouba Governorate, Delegation of Fernana: Oued Zen (36°48’43.08”N, 08°50’41.33”E; 394 m a.s.l.; site 2019-20), 04.IV.2019, leg. Imen Ben Osman, Vincent Hugonnot, TUN2019-61.

DISTRIBUTION. — Mediterranean ( Ros et al. 2007) and W Europe including Macaronesia ( Hodgetts & Lockhart 2020); SW Asia ( Kürschner & Frey 2020).

FLORISTIC ELEMENT. — Oceanic Southern-Temperate.

HABITAT

Alnus glutinosa riparian gallery, on higher banks of a permanent wadi, on earth-covered sandstone rocks.

The West European ecology of the species seems to concur with the unique Kroumirian population known to date. Saccogyna viticulosa is typical of shaded habitats, found in damp ledges, banks, and among rocks in wooded low-lying ravines, in areas where some water seepage typically exists (Blockeel et al. 2014).

It has been observed as sterile stands (no gametangia or sporophyte) as is usual in oceanic Europe. This species occurred abundantly as dense stands of shoots that covered several m².

This isolated North-African population is probably relictual (see Pseudotaxiphyllum elegans ). The threats are essentially linked to illegal woodland exploitation.

COMMENTS

A large and unmistakable leafy liverwort, growing as extended prostrate mats, with opposite leaves and large orbicularacuminate underleaves ( Paton 1999).