Riccia anatolica Özenoğlu & Kırmacı, 2022

Özenoğlu, Hatice & Kirmaci, Mesut, 2022, Riccia anatolica sp. nov. a new liverwort (Ricciaceae) species from Turkey, Phytotaxa 532 (1), pp. 78-84 : 79-81

Riccia anatolica Özenoğlu & Kırmacı sp. nov.

Turkish name: Anadolu çatalcığı

Type:— TURKEY, Mersin; Tarsus, on Tarsus–Çamlıyayla rood (1,5 km to Taşkuyu Village ), 260 m altitude; 360 57’ 11.0’’ N 340 47’ 48.9’’ E, 03.03.2014; Col. Kırmacı; Det. Özenoğlu & Kırmacı; Özenoğlu TR / 291 . ( AYDN 4000 )

Diagnosis:— It can be distinguished from two Riccia species ( R. nigrella and R. trabutiana ) with shiny black scales that occur in Turkey by the two layered epidermis, plant size ( R. anatolica thallus is 1.5–2 (–3) mm wide vs R. nigrella 0.5–1 (–1.2) mm wide and R. trabutiana- 0.5–1 (–1.6) mm wide), spores ( R. anatolica spores are (70–) 75–90 (–100) µm in diameter, wingless vs R. nigrella spores are (60–) 70–85 µm in diametere with a wing 4–6.5 µm wide), and thallus colour (thallus of R. anatolica dark-bluish green, black scales forming a narrow border, becoming brown on borders to plant posterior vs R. nigrella ’s thallus is dark green on dorsal side, orange-brown or red-brown on borders to plant posterior).

Description:— Plants form crowded gregarious patches; thallus dark-bluish green, black scales forming a narrow border, becoming brown on borders to plant posterior. Thallus 1–2 to several times furcate; ultimate branches 1.5–2 (3) mm wide, 4–7 (8) mm long, linear or narrowly ovate, narrowed from apex towards base, obtuse and emarginate apically; median dorsal groove distinct almost to base; cilia free, erect, to 150–250 µm long, occurring on margins of lobes, on upper surface and above the capsules, smooth; shiny black scales conspicuous, projecting vertically above margins, when dry mostly hidden by tightly inflexed sides of shiny black scales covering the dorsal surface; ventral scale cells 25–35 × 40–50 µm. Thallus sections 1000–1100 µm high and 1.5–2 times as wide, dorsal epidermis in 2 layers, thin-walled, outer cells 18–20 µm broad, up to 50 µm long, pyriform in shape; cells 20–35 × 30–50 µm in median groove.

Monoicous. Antheridia 140–150 µm wide, 100–120 µm long, in 4 or 6 rows along dorsal groove.Archegonia with purple-brown necks. Sporangia single or in groups of 2 or 4, overlying dorsal tissue becoming white and disintegrating with maturation of the sporophyte. Spores golden (yellowish) brown, (70–) 75–90 (–100) µm, ornamentation reticulate on both distal and proximal faces with 12–13 areolae, across diameter on distal face, 5–7 (–8) µm wide, rounded or angular, areolar walls low, smooth, sometimes slightly sinuous, raised at nodes and projections more pronounced over centre of spore face; proximal faces mostly with flattened contact marks left by sibling spores when still in tetrads, each face with 27–30 areolae; wingless, margin crenulate. Vegetative tubers lacking. Figs. 1–3 .

Additional specimens examined:— R. okahandjana : TANZANIA, Turiani, T. Pocs. (AYDN 5000!); R. congoana : KENYA, Kedong Valley, T. Pocs. (AYDN 5001!)

Distribution:— R. anatolica was collected from Tarsus-Mersin in the southern part of Turkey ( Fig. 4 ). Sampled area is situated between 36°57’11’’ N latitude and 34°47’48.9’’ E longitude and is 17 km from the Mediterranean sea shore.

Ecology:— The area is typical of the Mediterranean climate characterized by mild and rainy winters, warm and dry summers. Climatic data was calculated according to Mersin ( DMİ 2015). The mean annual temperature is 19.9 °C in the city. The mean monthly temperature from May to September is above the general mean temperature and August is the hottest month with 28.4 °C. The mean annual precipitation is about 650 mm. The relative humidity is over 60% during the summer period in the region. Mersin has received the most migration in Turkey over the last 40 years, with up to 300% increase in the city’s population (Mersin İl Çevre Durum Raporu 2015) and with this, an accompanying loss of many natural areas. The research area has been affected by human activities for a long time. General vegetation has been destroyed and transformed into a garrigue which is seen in the Mediterranean regions where maquis have been destroyed. Garrigue are plant communities consisting of short shrubs (1–2 m). The most common taxa in this vegetation are Quercus coccifera Linnaeus (1753b: 995) , Olea europaea Linnaeus (1753a: 8) plantation, Pistacia spp. Linnaeus (1753a: 1025) and Sarcopoterium spinosum Spach (1846: 43) which develop on limestone substrata. Drimia maritima ( Linnaeus 1753a: 308) Stearn (1978: 204) is the dominant taxon among the herbaceous forms ( Fig. 1B ). Riccia anatolica grows on open damp soil among this herbaceous vegetation. The genus Riccia which is one of the pioneer organisms generally prefers these areas in Mediterranean regions.

Etymology:— The epithet ‘anatolica’ refers to the region of Anatolia in Turkey.

Conservation Status:— The IUCN categories and criteria for allocating species to each category were used in IUCN version 3.1 published in 2001 and second edition in 2012 with the application guidelines for bryophytes ( Hodgetts, 2015). Considering all the criteria, R. anatolica should be regarded as CR (Critically Endangered).

Figures

FIGURE 4. Collection locality of Riccia anatolica

FIGURE. 1. A—Habit of Riccia anatolica; B—Habitats of Riccia anatolica in the Mediterranean Region of Turkey.

FIGURE 2. Plant outline and transverse sections of thallus. 1.—Habit of thalli; 2.—cross-sections of lobe; 3. and 4.—epidermis of 2 layers (e: epidermis, se: subepidermis); 5.—marginal cilia; 6.—dorsal view of epithelial cells and air pores. Drawn by M.Kırmacı

FIGURE 3. SEM photographs of spores of Riccia anatolica; A.—distal face, B.—proximal face.