Riccia squamata Nees

  • Authority

    Bischler, Hélène, et al. 2005. Marchantiidae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 97: 1--262. (Published by NYBG Press)

  • Family

    Ricciaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Riccia squamata Nees

  • Type

    Type. Brazil. Minas Gerais: Serra de Piedade, Martius s.n. (holotype, STR; isotype, PC).

  • Synonyms

    Riccia subnigella Herzog

  • Description

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    Species Description - Thalli in gregarious patches; lobes 2-3 mm long, l.l-1.8(-2.3) mm wide, rounded apically; dorsal side light brown greenish, bordered by the black scales connate with the flanks, margins completely inflexed when dry; flanks dark red-violet; ventral side pale pink. Median groove shallow. Epidermal cells rounded or pyriform. Ventral scales black or red-violet, glossy, imbricate, with smaller marginal cells. Rhizoids all smooth. Cross section of lobes as wide as high apically to twice as wide as high below, and 2-2.5 times as wide as high basally; dorsal edge with a weak median groove; flanks ascending vertically; ventral edge convex; cells of dorsal tissue with thin longitudinal strips. Monoecious. Sporangia hardly bulging. Spores tetrahedral, 96-125 µm diam., brick red with darker ornamentation, wingless; distal face with 7-9(-11) areoles across diam., with thin ridges and large, anastomosed tubercles, the areoles sometimes replaced by folds near equator; proximal face nearly smooth, with few low reddish black tubercles and granules, triradiate scar weak, with narrow ridges.

  • Discussion

    Riccia squamata is well characterized by spore shape, red color, and ornamentation. By its spore ornamentation R. squamata cannot be confused with any other neotropical Riccia species.

  • Distribution

    Riccia squamata is an infrequent neotropical species and has been recorded from Mexico (Zacatecas), S Dutch Antilles (Curaçao), Brazil (Bahía, Minas Gerais, Paraiba, Pernambuco, Piauí), Chile (Valparaiso (Müller, 1955)), and Argentina (Misiones). The species has been collected on sandy or rocky soil, exposed or partially shaded, on riverbanks, in caatinga vegetation, or in deciduous forests, at low elevation.

    Bahia Brazil South America| Piauí Brazil South America| Pernambuco Brazil South America| Minas Gerais Brazil South America| Curaçao South America| Zacatecas Mexico North America| Misiones Argentina South America| Brazil South America|