Frullania gibbosa Nees

• Authority

  Gradstein, S. Robbert & Ilkiu-Borges, Anna L. 2009. Guide to the plants of Central French Guiana. Part 4. Liverworts and hornworts. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 76 (4): i-iv + 1-140.

• Family

  Frullaniaceae

• Scientific Name

  Frullania gibbosa Nees

• Description

  
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  Species Description - Plants 2-2.5 mm wide, yellowish to light reddish green to somewhat brownish, loosely creeping, not closely appressed to substrate, loosely 1-2-pinnate, often forming large mats. Leaf lobes convolute when dry, squarrose when wet, not fragile, ovate-orbicular, apex rounded, plane, margins entire, dorsal.base strongly auriculate. Cells in upper part of leaf isodiametrical, 20-25 µm, walls not sinuose, trigones well-developed, sometimes confluent, intermediate thickenings scarce; ocelli lacking. Lobules close to stem, erect, helmetshaped, base flattened and broadly attached to lobe, flattened part triangular, shorter than sac. Stylus relatively large, rounded, leaf-like (hidden behind underleaves). Underleaves shallowly bifid to 1/5 of length, densely imbricate, 3-4 times stem width, broad orbicular, gibbous, margins entire, plane, bases cuneate to rounded. Rhizoids from middle of the underleaf. Autoicous. Gynoecia on short or long branches, margins of bracts and bracteoles entire. Perianths oblong, smooth, 4-keeled.

• Discussion

  Frullania gibbosa and F. ericoides are among the most xerophytic leafy liverworts of tropical America and may occur together on tree trunks in open locations; both species have squarrose leaves and may be confused. They can be recognized in the field by their different sizes, F. gibbosa being about 1.5 times larger than F. ericoides. Moreover, the leaves of F. ericoides are very brittle, whereas those of F. gibbosa are not. The very broad attachment of the lobule to the lobe; the more shallowly bifid (to 1/5 only) underleaves; the smooth, 4-keeled perianths; and the leaf-like stylus of F. gibbosa are further characters separating it from F. ericoides.