Ectropothecium anomalum (Thér.)

Yi, Zhao-Qin, Mu, Li-Qiang & Jia, Yu, 2022, Notes on Glossadelphus M. Fleisch. (Hypnaceae, Bryophyta) in China, Phytotaxa 541 (3), pp. 225-239 : 230

3-1. Ectropothecium anomalum (Thér.) Z.-Q. Yi & Y. Jia, comb. nov. ( Fig. 3 )

Glossadelphus anomalus Thér., Ann. Cryptog. Exot. 5: 185. 1932. Type :— CHINA. Fujian: Yenping, Buong Kang, on wet shady rock by a stream, 700 m, 29 June 1925, H.H. Chung B102 (lectotype, designated here: FH [ FH00060989 ]!; isolectotypes, S [ B118270 ]!, US [ US 00070069]!) . Fujian: Yenping, Buong Kang , 800 m, 29 June 1925, H. H . Chung B105 a (syntype: PC). Fujian: Foochow, Kushan , on moist rock on dark forest floor, 500 m, 8 August 1925, H. H . Chung B144 (syntype: FH [ FH00060985 ]!) ; ibid. loc., 11 August 1925, H. H . Chung B194 (syntype: G [ G00116120 ]!) ; ibid. loc., 11 August 1925, H. H . Chung B196 (syntypes: FH [ FH00060984 ]!, PE!) .

Plants slender and soft, small to medium sized. Stems creeping, irregularly branched; central strand weakly developed. Pseudoparaphyllia complex, mixed with filamentous and sub-foliose ones. Stem leaves smaller and more falcate than branch leaves; leaves of dorsi-ventral and lateral surfaces differentiated. Dorsi-ventral leaves ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, slightly concave, asymmetrical, (0.75–)0.86–0.96(–1.0) × 0.3–0.4 mm. Lateral leaves lanceolate, obviously concave, symmetrical, 0.86–1.0 × 0.3–0.35 mm. Leaf apices acute. Leaf margins of upper dentate with single teeth; costae double, usually unequal in length, 1/4 to 1/3 of the leaf length. Laminal cells linear, thin-walled, prorate at upper end; median cells 26–35 × ca. 4 µm; alar region weakly differentiated, with an inflated cell at laminal base. Asexual reproductive bodies not seen.

Autoicous. Inner perichaetial leaves oblong-lanceolate, 0.9–1.3 mm long, 0.25–0.35 mm wide at base with a narrow long acute apex, erect, ecostate. Setae smooth, yellowish brown, ca. 1 cm long. Capsules small, ca. 1.2 × ca. 0.6 mm, inclined to nearly erect, oblong-ovate, constricted below mouth. Opercula not seen. Annuli present. Exothecial cells collenchymatous. Peristome double, well developed. Spores globose, finely papillose, 15–20 μm in diameter. Calyptra cucullate, smooth.

Habitat:—On moist rock beside a stream in a forest.

World distribution:— China [Fujian].

Other specimens examined:—Only known from five syntypes in two localities.

Comment:— Glossadelphus anomalus was described by Thériot in 1932, based on five syntypes (H.H. Chung B102, B105, B144, B194, B196). Although morphological characters of this species are variable according to the environment conditions, the species is diagnosed by the following features: (1) filiform to foliose pseudoparaphyllia, (2) a large, inflated, hyaline, thin-walled cell at each base of leaves, (3) distinct proration at upper end of laminal cells, (4) asymmetrical ovate-lanceolate leaves, with crispate and serrate margins, and (5) obvious double costae. These characters do not fit the concept of Phyllodon . For example, Phyllodon has no inflated hyaline cells at laminal bases and filiform to foliose pseudoparaphyllia. While, they match well with the concept of Ectropothecium as delimited by He (2019).

In all examined specimens, we have found that leaves of inclined branches are somewhat larger than those of prostrate branches. In addition, proration at upper end of laminal cells and crispate laminal margins are sometimes weak.

Glossadelphus anomalus was once synonymized under G. prostratus by Tixier (1988). After examining the type specimens of both species, we conclude that G. anomalus is not conspecific with G. prostratus , because the latter has blunt leaf apices and distinctly contracted leaf bases. Therefore, we reinstate G. anomalus as an independent species, but transfer it to Ectropothecium here as, Ectropothecium anomalum (Thér.) Z.-Q. Yi & Y. Jia. Ectropothecium anomalum differs from all other Chinese Ectropothecium species in its small leaves with crispate and serrate margins. It might be confused with E. zollingeri in obvious double costae and prorate laminal cells, but differ from the latter in smaller plants, shorter branches (2–5 mm vs. 5–10 mm), and smaller leaves (0.8–0.1 × 0.3–0.4 mm vs. 1.0–1.4 × 0.4–0.5 mm).

Thériot (1932) described that Glossadelphus anomalus has monocostate perichaetial leaves. Based on our study, the description on inner perichaetial leaves presented by Thériot (1932) was revealed to be based on another species ( Pseudoleskeopsis spp. , Leskeaceae ) mixed with the specimens (H.H. Chung B144, B194 and B196) of G. anomalus .

Figures

FIGURE 3. Ectropothecium anomalum. A–C: Plants; D: Median laminal cells; E: Basal laminal cells; F: Pseudoparaphyllium and primordium; G: Branch leaves (G1–G4 & G8: Dorsi-ventral leaves; G5–G7: Lateral leaves); H: Stem leaves (H1: Dorsal leaf; H2: Ventral leaf; H3: Lateral leaf); I: Leaf apices; J: Inner perichaetial leaves; K: Cross-section of stem; L: Perigonium; M: Antheridium.A, D–I & K from lectotype of Glossadelphus anomalus (H.H. Chung B102, FH00060989); G7 & G8 from syntype of G. anomalus (H.H. Chung B196, FH00060984); B, C, J, L & M from syntype of G. anomalus (H.H. Chung B144, FH00060985). Scale bars: a for A; b for B; c for C; d for G1–G8, H1–H3; e for J1–J2; f for E2; g for M–L; h for D, E1, F; i for K, I1–I2.