Ceratolejeunea cornuta (Lindenb.) Schiffn.

  • 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

    Lejeuneaceae

  • Scientific Name

    Ceratolejeunea cornuta (Lindenb.) Schiffn.

  • Description

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    Species Description - Plants 0.6-1.5 mm wide, brownish green to almost black, sparsely to rather densely branched, creeping or pendent. Leaf lobes short- ovate, symmetrical to asymmetrical with arched dorsal margin and straight ventral margin, both margins entire or toothed near apex, the latter rounded or broadly acute, plane. Cells in midlobe ca. 25 µm; oil bodies homogeneous (Dauphin 2003); ocelli highly variable, up to 7 or lacking at leaf bases, not forming a row, sometimes absent. Lobules ovoid or spherical and ball-shaped, 0.1-0.5 of leaf length, sometimes reduced; utricles common or rare, when present 1-2 per branch. Underleaves bifid to 1/2 of length, ovate-orbicular to reni- form, distant to imbricate, 2-6 times stem width, margins entire bases with or without auricles. Autoicous or dioicous. Perianths with 4 erect horns, to 0.3 mm long.

  • Discussion

    Lobules in C. cornuta vary from small ovoid to large spherical (ball-shaped) and underleaves from narrowly ovate to broad reniform. This variation may be observed on single stems. Plants with reniform underleaves have been described as C. maritima. Spherical lobules should not be confused with utricles. The latter occur exclusively at branch bases and are characterized by the reduced leaf lobe, which is shorter than the hugely inflated lobule. In leaves with spherical lobules, the leaf lobe is not reduced and much longer than the lobule (Dauphin, 2003).

    Ceratolejeunea cornuta is confusingly similar to C. cubensis.