Acrolejeunea torulosa (Lehm. & Lindenb.) Schiffn.

  • Authority

    Gradstein, S. Robbert. 1994. Lejeuneaceae: Ptychantheae, Brachiolejeuneae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 62: 216. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Lejeuneaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Acrolejeunea torulosa (Lehm. & Lindenb.) Schiffn.

  • Type

    Type. Guianas, "hb. Hooker" (holotype, S; isotypes, BM, FH, MANCH, NY, PC, W, YU).

  • Synonyms

    Lejeunea polyphylla Taylor, Acrolejeunea torulosa var. obtusa Gradst., Jungermannia torulosa Lehm. & Lindb., Phragmicoma torulosa (Lehm. & Lindenb.) Gott, Lindenb. & Nees, Ptychocoleus torulosus (Lehm. & Lindenb.) Trevis., Symbiezidium polyphyllum (Taylor) Trevis., Archilejeunea polyphylla (Taylor) Steph.

  • Description

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    Species Description - Autoicous or dioicous. Plants up to 4 cm long × 1.2-1.8 mm wide. Branching Lejeunea-type, occasionally Frullania-type, flagelliform shoots frequently present. Stems 0.12-0.17 mm in diam., in cross section composed of 16-22 thin-walled epidermal cells surrounding 24-34 smaller, slightly thick-walled medullary cells; ventral merophyte 4(-6) cell rows wide. Leaves dorsal lobe ovate-orbicular, 0.7-1.2 × 0.7-1 mm, apex rounded or subobtuse, ventral margin plane or curved upwards, when spread out forming an angle of 140-160° with the keel; median cells 25-35 × 16-27 µm; trigones small to mediumsized, intermediate thickenings usually scarce; oil bodies homogeneous, small, ellipsoid to fusiform, 2 × 4-7(-9) µm, 7-15 in median leaf cells. Lobules ovate-triangular, 0.35-0.5 × 0.25-0.35 mm, 2/5-l/2× lobe length, apex oblique, keel almost straight, curved near the base, free margin plane or curved upwards, straight or slightly curved to the apex and shortly continuing into the ventral margin of the lobe, with 5-7 teeth, the first tooth 2-4 cells long, curved outwardly, occasionally erect or inflexed, separated from the second tooth by 3-5 margin cells, the other teeth 1-2 cells long, erect or inflexed, separated from each other by 1-3 margin cells. Underleaves broadly ovate to obovate, 0.25-0.5 × 0.5-0.8 mm, 3-4.5× stem width, margins plane. Androecia with bracts in 6-10 series. Gynoecia with bracts and bracteoles in 3-6 series, inner bracts squarrose above, bifid to 1/3, lobes obovate, 1, 1-1, 4 mm long, apex widely rounded, rarely narrow obtuse (var. obtusa Gradst.), lobules narrow oblong, 2/3-3/4× lobe length, apex rounded, obtuse or notched; inner bracteoles as in the genus. Perianths not exserted, obovoid, averaging 1 × 0.7 mm, weakly compressed above, 5-10-keeled in the upper half with 2-5 ventral, two lateral and 1-3 small dorsal keels, beak 6-7 cells long. Sporophyte: spores 40-50 m long, covered with numerous short, bluntish papillae and a few rosettes; elaters 350-400 × 14 µm, with one brown, ca. 4 µm wide spiral. Caducous leaves usually minute, about 4-6 × smaller than branch leaves, with subequal lobe and lobule, lobule with 2 teeth, a long apical rhizoid arising from the sinus at the apex of the keel (in colls. Vital 2109, 1846 from Brazil caducous leaves larger, resembling those of Acrolejeunea emergens).

  • Discussion

    Acrolejeunea torulosa is easily distinguished from its allies by its lobule with 5-8 teeth and by its very small caducous leaves with subequal lobe and lobule and a long subapical rhizoid. Gradstein (1975) recorded a few collections from coastal Brazil (Vital 2109, 2846) with less strongly modified caducous leaves, resembling those found in A. emergens. Acrolejeunea torulosa is the most common species of Acrolejeunea in the neotropics. In Amazonia the species has been found growing intermingled with A. emergens. The more flattened appearance of A. emergens in these mixed collections serves to distinguish the two species almost by the naked eye.

    Acrolejeunea torulosa may be confused with pale-colored phases of Frullanoides corticalis. For differences see under the latter. (see Gradstein, 1975:125-131)

    Ptychocoleus reflexus Winkler, Rev. Bryol. Lichénol. 35: 329. 1968. Type. San Salvador, Winkler B/6/d8 (hb. Winkler, n.v.) = ?

    The type material has not been made available. Judging from the original description this species does not belong to Acrolejeunea.

    Ptychocoleus subfalcatus Herzog in Standley, Field Mus. Nat. Hist. Bot. 10: 61. 1931, nom. nud. = ?

    The material could not be located.

    Chemistry: Terpenoids: trans-ß-farnesene and various pinguisanines (hydroxypinguisanine, pinguisanolide) have been detected as main compounds of this species (Gradstein et al., 1985).

  • Objects

    Pending, G. T. Prance 11967, Unknown, Unknown, Unknown; South America, Brazil, Acre, Cruzeiro do Sul Mun.

  • Distribution

    Northern South America, common. Habitat as in the genus.

    Curaçao South America| Trinidad and Tobago South America| Colombia South America| Amazonas Colombia South America| Cundinamarca Colombia South America| Meta Colombia South America| Nariño Colombia South America| Risaralda Colombia South America| Vaupés Colombia South America| Amazonas Venezuela South America| Apure Venezuela South America| Guárico Venezuela South America| Lara Venezuela South America| Monagas Venezuela South America| Guyana South America| Suriname South America| French Guiana South America| Peru South America| Loreto Peru South America| Brazil South America| Acre Brazil South America| Amazonas Brazil South America| Bahia Brazil South America| Espirito Santo Brazil South America| Maranhão Brazil South America| Mato Grosso Brazil South America| Pará Brazil South America| Rondônia Brazil South America| São Paulo Brazil South America| Bolivia South America| Beni Bolivia South America|