Stictolejeunea balfourii (Mitt.) E.W.Jones

• 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

  Stictolejeunea balfourii (Mitt.) E.W.Jones

• Description

  
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  Species Description - Plants 1-1.3 mm wide, to 2 cm long, glossy blackish, irregularly branched, creeping, forming small and appressed patches in very moist, shaded habitats. Branches Lejeunea-type (Frullania- type branches lacking). Leaf lobes imbricate, ovate to oblong, sometimes with a whitish border of 1-2 cell rows. Cells in midlobe isodiametrical to elongate, 10-20 µm long, walls evenly thickened; ocelli numerous, dispersed. Lobules as in genus but never curved backward and apex with only 1 tooth, 1-3 cells long. Underleaves distant, suborbicular, 2-3 times stem width, apex plane, margins usually with a whitish border of 1-2 cell rows, insertion line straight. Autoicous. Gynoecia without or with 1 short, androecial innovation. Perianth auricles low, to 1/5 of perianth length, not touching each other, leaving a wide opening above beak, margins of auricles without whitish border.

• Discussion

  This pantropical species has been little collected, probably because of its rheophytic habitat. The plants from central French Guiana belong to var. bekkeri Gradstein, characterized by rather low perianth auricles. This variety is very rare and endemic to the Guianas, where it is known from two localities (Gradstein, 1994).