Fossombronia capensis S.W.Arnell var. spiralis Perold
Indigenous Endemic

Morphological description

Plants in crowded stands, green; shoots medium-sized in male plants, up to 10 mm long, 1.4-2.2 mm high, 2.8-3.5 mm wide; female plants rather larger, 10-15 mm long, 2.0-2.5 mm high, 3.3-4.5 mm wide, simple or once/twice furcate, segments moderately to widely divergent, apically 2-7 mm long. Stems prostrate, slightly or not tapering proximally, dorsally chlorophyllose, ventrally usually purple, plano-convex in cross section, in male plants apically up to 450 micro meter (10 cell rows) high, 500 micro meter wide, basally 310-350 x 500-550 µm; female plants apically ±500 µm (10-12 cell rows) high, 650 µm wide, basally ±450 x 600 µm. Rhizoids purple, 12.5-20.0 µm wide. Leaves overlapping, widely spreading, succubously inserted smaller apically but soon enlarging, oblong to obovate, sometimes slightly notched above, lobes equal in size or not in male plants, 1300-2125 x 1100-1925 µm, when sides not parallel narrower below, 1000-1300 µm wide; in female plants mostly larger, 1550-2750 x 1550-2575 µm, below 1075-1750 µm; margins generally almost entire, papillae if present, few, only 1 or 2. Leaf cells thin-walled, in male and female plants quite similar, at upper margins subquadrate to rectangular across, 20.0-42.5 x 27.5-40.0(-57.5) µm, at lateral margins long-rectangular, 65-75 x 20.0-37.5 µm; upper laminal cells 5- or 6-sided, 35-50 x 40.0-47.5 µm; middle laminal cells 50-85 x 37.5-62.5 µm; basal cells 62.5-82.5 x 42.5-50.0 µm. Oil bodies 7-12 per cell, spherical to ovoid, up to 5 µm diam., glistening, homogeneous; chloroplasts numerous, ±5 µm diam. Dioicous. Antheridia dorsal on stem, in 1 or 2 rows, short-stalked, globose or ovoid, 220-250 µm diam., each shielded by a perigonial bract, irregular in shape, 370-450 x 200-300 µm, sometimes 2 adjacent ones joined together, margins mostly without papillae, cells in interior 4- or 5-sided, 50-75 x 27.5-37.5 µm. Archegonia in 1 or 2 rows along stem, naked; sometimes 2 in acropetal sequence or 2 adjacent on a branch becoming fertilised. Pseudoperianth near apex to rather more proximal, campanulate, projecting up to 800 µm above leaves, raised on a short stalk, then widely flaring above, 1625-2250 µm long, 2000-3125 µm wide across mouth, margin undulating or sometimes sparsely and shallowly lobed, very rarely with some angular projections, occasional vertically split along side, lateral outgrowths quite common; cells at margin and immediately below comparable in shape and size to those of leaves, but larger at ± midlength, 100-165 x 32.5-50.0 µm, and at base, 175-195 x 75-80 µm. Capsules globose, ±850 µm diam., wall bistratose, cells in inner layer irregularly shaped, some trapezoidal, others triangular or rectangular, 35.0-42.5 x 17.5-37.5 µm, each cell wall with (1)2 or 3 dark brown, nodular and occasionally semi-annular thickenings. Seta 2.9-4.0 mm long, 290-300 x 240 µm in transverse section, 5 or 6 cells across. Spores golden brown to darker brown, hemispherical, 37.5-55.0 µm diam., including lamellae projecting at margin; distal face convex, with 6-8 irregularly branching and sometimes poorly developed lamellae, ±5 µm high and 5-10 µm apart running across face, a few parallel to each other, others in different directions, occasionally anastomosing and forming some complete or incomplete areolae, rarely with a central tubercle, s surface between lamellae highly uneven, granular or mostly coarsely striated; proximal face lacking triradiate mark, flat, covered with irregularly shaped papillae and fine granules in between as well as marginally, up to 20 ‘spines’ projecting around spore periphery, few of them joined by sections of incomplete wing. Elaters yellow, 75.0-157.5 x 7.5-10.0 µm, tapering to the tips or not, smooth, entirely 2-spiral or 3-spiral, often partly 2-spiral and partly 3-spiral, rarely branched. From: Perold, SM. 1999. Studies in the liverwort genus Fossombronia (Metzgeriales) from southern Africa. 7. F. capensis var. spiralis, a new variety from Western Cape. Bothalia 29(1): 1-4.

Diagnostic description

Male plants bearing fairly large, somewhat spaced perigonial bracts shielding antheridia; leaves generally with few (1 or 2) or no papillae at margins and with 7-12 oil bodies per median cell; inner capsule wall with ± half the cells per field having semi-annular thickening bands; distal spore face frequently with poorly developed lamellae, surface between them highly uneven and often coarsely striated; perispore at spore periphery absent or very incomplete; elaters always well-formed, (50.0-)75.0-157.5 µm long with strongly developed spiral bands. From: Perold, SM. 1999. Studies in the liverwort genus Fossombronia (Metzgeriales) from southern Africa. 7. F. capensis var. spiralis, a new variety from Western Cape. Bothalia 29(1): 1-4.

Habitat

Under rocks on island in stream. From: Perold, SM. 1999. Studies in the liverwort genus Fossombronia (Metzgeriales) from southern Africa. 7. F. capensis var. spiralis, a new variety from Western Cape. Bothalia 29(1): 1-4.

Distribution

Western Cape, (Vanrhynsdorp): Matsikama Mountains, Bo-Drift Farm, at Olyfenhoutsrivier. From: Perold, SM. 1999. Studies in the liverwort genus Fossombronia (Metzgeriales) from southern Africa. 7. F. capensis var. spiralis, a new variety from Western Cape. Bothalia 29(1): 1-4.

Altitude

50 to 1000 m

Occurrence records map

This map contains point-based occurrences at different locations

iNaturalist: BODATSA: Data partners records:

Residence status

Occurrence in the Flora of Southern Africa (FSA) countries and South African provinces. Residence status indicates if a taxon is indigenous, endemic, naturalised or invasive in a specific region. This data is based on specimen records and literature

FSA

SA

BOT

NAM

ESW

LES

WC

EC

NC

FS

GA

KZN

LP

MP

NW

Absent

Indigenous

Endemic

Naturalised

Invasive

Names and Sources

Accepted name
Fossombronia capensis S.W.Arnell var. spiralis Perold

Published in: Bothalia 29: 1 (1999)

Synonym(s)

10 results for Fossombronia capensis S.W.Arnell var. spiralis Perold

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Specimen records

Barcode: PRE0837084-0 Collector(s) & number: Perold, SM, 3394 | 1995-11-20

South Africa, Western Cape, Matsikamma Mountains; Near Ouberg Pass; At drift, on vertical stream bank, under overhang.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0752699-0 Collector(s) & number: Koekemoer, M, 2619A | 2003-3-2

South Africa, Western Cape, SW of Uniondale on turn-off from Uniondale Poort to De Hoop. At river crossing.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0752704-0 Collector(s) & number: Koekemoer, M, 2649 | 2003-3-5

South Africa, Western Cape, About 10 km from Gamkaskloof along a stream.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0837063-0 Collector(s) & number: Perold, SM, 3905 | 1997-10-6

South Africa, Western Cape, East of Van Rhynsdorp; Matsikama Mountains; Gifberg, Bo-Drift Farm, at Olyfenhoutsrivier; on island in stream, under rocks.

General notes: HOLOTYPE

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0837060-0 Collector(s) & number: Perold, SM, 3407 | 1995-11-22

South Africa, Western Cape, 20 km from Clanwilliam and 14 km after turn off to Cedarberg; Stream bank, below road.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0752700-0 Collector(s) & number: Koekemoer, M, 2620 | 2003-3-2

South Africa, Western Cape, SW of Uniondale on turn-off from Uniondale Poort to De Hoop. At river crossing.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0752695-0 Collector(s) & number: Koekemoer, M, 2616 | 2003-3-2

South Africa, Western Cape, SW of Uniondale on turn-off from Uniondale Poort to De Hoop. At river crossing.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0752696-0 Collector(s) & number: Koekemoer, M, 2617 | 2003-3-2

South Africa, Western Cape, SW of Uniondale on turn-off from Uniondale Poort to De Hoop. At river crossing.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0837429-0 Collector(s) & number: Perold, SM, 3979 | 1998-1-17

South Africa, Western Cape, Hermanus: The Grotto; behind lawns and ablution block. In 'cave', at dripping seep.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Barcode: PRE0837430-0 Collector(s) & number: Perold, SM, 3980 | 1998-1-17

South Africa, Western Cape, Hermanus: The Grotto; behind lawns and ablution block. In 'cave', at dripping seep.

Data Resource: BODATSA View record

Plant occurence records per dataset

Plant occurence records per year

Occurrence records map

This map contains point-based occurrences at different locations

iNaturalist: BODATSA: Data partners records:

1999

PERIODICAL/JOURNAL

Studies in the liverwort genus Fossombronia (Metzgeriales) from southern Africa. 7. F. capensis var. spiralis, a new variety from Western Cape Perold, SM

Bothalia 29(1)1-4

No results found for Fossombronia capensis S.W.Arnell var. spiralis Perold

No assessment available

Part(s) of plant used Use(s) Reference

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