Plagiochila stricta Lindenb.

Gradstein, S. Robbert & Reeb, Catherine, 2022, The genus Plagiochila (Dumort.) Dumort. (Marchantiophyta) in Madagascar, Cryptogamie, Bryologie 20 (5), pp. 65-106 : 97-98

publication ID	https://doi.org/ 10.5252/cryptogamie-bryologie2022v43a5
persistent identifier	https://treatment.plazi.org/id/AE6387E6-FF81-FFD9-F7F9-38D08362FB75
treatment provided by	Felipe
scientific name	Plagiochila stricta Lindenb.
status

Treatment

Plagiochila stricta Lindenb. View in CoL

( Fig. 20)

Plagiochila stricta Lindenb. , Species Hepathicarum (fasc. 1): 20

(1839). — Type: Jamaica. Swartz s.n. (holo-, W!).

ADDITIONAL SPECIMENS EXAMINED. — Madagascar. Prov. Antananarivo • between Ambatolaona and Mandraka, Pócs et al. 9868/

AF (GOET). — Prov. Antsiranana • Marojejy Nat. Park , III.1990, Pócs 90114/ CG ( EGR) .

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT. — Peri-Afro-American (tropical America, Madagascar, Comores), also in Macaronesia ( Lindner et al. 2004). In Madagascar found on bark in humid mid-elevation forest, 1000-1400 m.

DESCRIPTION (see also Heinrichs et al. 1998; Lindner et al.

2004)

Plants 2-3.5 mm wide, to 4 cm long, sparsely branched, branches intercalary. Creeping, rhizome-like primary stem present. Mature stem leaves usually imbricate, ± widely spreading, not ventrad, asymmetrically ovate-oblong, c. 1.5× longer than wide, widest at the base, not or slightly ampliate, unbordered, apex rounded, dorsal margin entire, ventral and apical margin with 5-20 narrowly triangular to linear teeth, the teeth to 4 cells long; dorsal and ventral bases shortly decurrent. Leaf cells isodiametrical to somewhat elongate, 15-30(-35) µm wide in midleaf, with conspicuous trigones, leaf base with a short vitta-like area; cuticle sligthly to strongly striate-papillose; oil bodies not seen. Underleaves absent. Perianth base covered by leaves. Vegetative reproduction not observed (by caducous teeth?).

NOTES

Plagiochila stricta (sect. Arrectae) is recognized by the medium-sized plants (c. 2-3 mm wide) with rather wide-spreading, asymmetrically ovate-oblong leaves with up to 20 narrowly triangular to linear teeth, a short vitta and a finely papillose cuticle. The papillosity of the cuticle varies and the plants from Marojejy Reserve are only slightly papillose. Plagiochila stricta shares a papillose cuticle with P. boryana but the latter species is a much more robust plant with much larger leaf cells.