Oncophorus integerrimus Hedenäs, 2017

Lars Hedenäs, 2017, Scandinavian Oncophorus (Bryopsida, Oncophoraceae): species, cryptic species, and intraspecific variation, European Journal of Taxonomy 315, pp. 1-34 : 26-27

4. Oncophorus integerrimus Hedenäs sp. nov.

Fig. 10

Oncophorus virens var. elongatus Limpr., Die Laubmoose Deutschlands, Oesterreichs und der Schweiz 1: 309 ( Limpricht 1886). – Cynodontium virens var. elongatum (Limpr.) Mönk., Die Laubmoose Europas : 195 ( Mönkemeyer 1927). – Type: “An Quellen bei Innervillgraten in Tirol (Gander) und im Valée d’Eyne in den Pyrenäen 200 m (Renauld)” (syn-: BP, n.v.).

Diagnosis

Oncophorus integerrimus sp. nov. differs from O. virens (Hedw.) Brid. by its more loosely incurved leaves when dry, and in having entire or almost entire upper leaf margins.

Etymology

The epithet ‘ integerrimus ’ refers to the mostly entire leaf margin.

Type material

SWEDEN: Härjedalen, Tännäs, SW slope of Mt. Joltere (Lill-Mittåkläppen), 960 m a.s.l., periodically wet depression at margin of fen, 2 Sep. 2014, Lars Hedenäs s.n. (holo-: S, B207536!; iso-: BM!, NY!).

Description

Plants up to ten cm high, usually in loose tufts, green or yellow-green. Stem with large central strand, a cortex of (0–)1–3 layers of strongly incrassate cells, and an epidermis of one layer of thin-walled or slightly incrassate cells, sometimes partly differentiated as a hyalodermis; axillary hairs with 2–8-celled, hyaline upper portion, 8–12 µm wide, basal 1–2 cells rectangular, hyaline; rhizoids strongly branched, red-brown, smooth, in leaf axils. Leaves 2.7–5.0 × 0.6–1.1 mm, when moist from sheathing base erectpatent to spreading, straight or screwed, when dry loosely incurved and curled or twisted, from ovate or rounded-oblong base with longly and narrowly triangular acumen, apex longly acuminate; leaf margin at least partly distinctly recurved in lower leaf, below entire, in upper leaf mostly entire or indistinctly and obtusely denticulate, occasionally distinctly denticulate close to leaf apex, denticles single, margin varying from unistratose to bistratose; costa 75–146 µm wide near base, with dorsal and ventral epidermis, one layer of large guide cells, 1–4 layers of ventral stereids and 2–4 layers of dorsal stereids; lamina cells in acumen incrassate, 6–38(–49) × 5–15 µm, 0.6–4.5(–5.8) times as long as wide, in mid-leaf incrassate, 6–42 × 4–12 µm, 0.6–6.1(–7.2) times as long as wide, and in sheathing lamina slightly incrassate or incrassate and slightly porose, 16–91 × 5–22 µm, 1.4–12.4 times as long as wide, transition between mid-leaf and basal cells gradual, due to relatively long mid-leaf cells and relatively short basal cells; alar cells differentiated, rectangular, slightly to strongly inflated and forming a diffusely delimited group of 3–5 cells wide and 3–5(–6) cells long, partly bistratose, decurrent. Perigonia lateral on stem, not stalked, antheridia protected by oblong perigonial leaves with “cut-off” or acute apex. Inner perichaetial leaves 4.29–6.02 mm long, lower 32–58% oblong and broadly sheathing, above suddenly narrowed to long, narrow acumen. Seta tall, 18–27 mm; capsule cylindric, curved, with distinct struma, 1.3–1.8 × 0.5– 0.8 mm, 1.8–2.6 times as long as broad, more or less orthogonal to homotropus; exothecial cells slightly incrassate or longitudinally incrassate, collenchymatous or not; stomata ovate-pored, surrounded by radially arranged cells, near base of capsule; peristome red, teeth cleft or perforated to middle or further down, with longitudinal rows of pits on outside; spores 18–28 µm, very finely rough.

Remarks

When well developed this is a large species, with on the average more longly and narrowly acuminate leaves than in O. virens . When dry, the leaves are loosely incurved or curved upwards, and the upper acumen is loosely but relatively strongly twisted. The leaf margin in the acumen is mostly entire, but sometimes slightly uneven or has a few and usually low and irregular obtuse teeth. Occasionally one or a few sharp teeth may occur, especially close to the leaf apex.

Habitat and distribution in Scandinavia

Oncophorus integerrimus sp. nov. is found most often in open wetlands, but occurs also on soil and wet rocks, often on shores ( Fig. 4 ). The distribution of O. integerrimus sp. nov. is similar to that of O. virens , but geographically more restricted ( Fig. 3D ). Of the four Scandinavian Oncophorus species it is the only one that has not been found in southern Sweden, although there are few finds from southern Norway.

Nomenclatural note

The synonymy of Oncophorus virens var. elongatus Limpr. is based on protologue information ( Limpricht 1886) and on material collected by Gander at the type locality two years after the description of the taxon (S-B232585). The name of the variety cannot be used at the species level, since it is blocked by Oncophorus elongatus (I.Hagen) Hedenäs.

Figures

Fig. 3. Geographical distributions in Scandinavia. A. Oncophorus elongatus (n = 459). B. O. wahlenbergii (n = 333). C. O. virens (n = 361). D. O. integerrimus Hedenäs sp. nov. (n = 247). The distribution maps are based on the S material for which geographical origin could be determined.

Fig. 4. Habitat preferences of Oncophorus elongatus, O. wahlenbergii, O. virens, and O. integerrimus Hedenäs sp. nov. in Scandinavia, based on label information from studied material in S.

Fig. 10. Oncophorus integerrimus Hedenäs sp. nov (holotype). A. Stem leaves. B. Upper leaf acumen. C. Portion of leaf at widest point, showing the broadly recurved margin. D. Lower part of sheathing leaf portion, showing differentiated alar region (margin to the right).