Macromitrium blumei Nees ex Schwägr.

Shevock, James R., 2015, Species of Macromitrium (Orthotrichaceae) New to the Mindanao Region and the Philippines with One Species New to Science, Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 62 (21), pp. 541-549 : 546

Macromitrium blumei Nees ex Schwägr. [syn. M. zollingeri Dozy & Molk. ; M. blumei var. zollingeri (Mitt. ex Bosch & Sande Lac.) S. L. Guo, B. C. Tan & Virtanen ]

SPECIMENS EXAMINED:— Mindanao Island: Bukidnon Province, saddle below the summit of Mt. Dulang-Dulang in Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park , on branches, 24 Apr 2014, Shevock & B . C . Tan 44874 ( CAS, CMUH, UC); ibid, Mt. Kiamo , along ridge trail to summit, on fallen hardwood branch, 7 May 2014, Shevock & B . C . Tan 45141 ( CAS, CMUH, UC); ibid, Mt. Limbawon, trail along ridge top at 1885 m elev. from campsite about 9 km distance above Kibalabag village , on branch of Dacrydium in open site of montane forest, 30 Jun 2015, Shevock et al. 47042 ( CAS, CMUH, UC) ; Davao Oriental Province, along trail from Camp 2 near pygmy forest to summit of Mt. Hamiguitan , 1175–1350 m elev., on small diameter tree trunk in sun, 22 Jun 2015, Shevock & Yorong 46903, 46912 ( CAS, CMUH, UC) .

This is a common species in the Philippines and also a widespread member of the genus in Malesia. On Mindanao Island, it has been reported only from Mt. Candoon in Bukidnon Province and Mt. Apo Natural Park. The collections cited above expand the distribution of this species in Mindanao.

Macromitrium blumei is interpreted by us as a polymorphic species that exhibits both smooth and strongly bulging upper leaf cells. The synonymy between M. blumei and M. zollingeri was suggested by Eddy (1996) and agreed by us after we examined many packets of Mindanao specimens of these two taxa. The coiling leaves around the short branches, when dry, give the shoot a characteristic rope-like appearance ( Eddy 1996). The small plant size, coupled with a somewhat asymmetrically obtuse leaf apex and a short to moderately long, excurrent costa, are additional diagnostic characters of this species. Macromitrium blumei is a widespread and common species in Malesia.