Journal of Threatened
Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 December 2024 | 16(12): 26317–26321
ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893
(Print)
https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9138.16.12.26317-26321
#9138 | Received 09 May 2024 | Final received
11 November 2024 | Finally accepted 02 December 2024
Phycolepidozia indica
(Marchantiophyta: Jungermanniales) an endemic leafless liverwort from Kerala
part of Western Ghats, India
T. Krishnendhu 1, C.N. Manju 2, Ravi Athira 3 & K.P. Rajesh 4
1,2,3 Bryology Laboratory,
Department of Botany, University of Calicut, Malappuram Dist., Kerala 673635,
India.
4 Department of Botany,
The Zamorin’s Guruvayurappan College (Affiliated to the University of Calicut),
Kozhikode District, Kerala 673614, India.
1 krishnendhut903@gmail.com,
2 manjucali@gmail.com (corresponding author), 3 athiraplk@gmail.com,
4 kprajesh.botany@gmail.com
Editor: D.K. Singh, Botanical Survey of India,
Lucknow, India. Date of publication: 26 December 2024
(online & print)
Citation: Krishnendhu, T., C.N. Manju, R. Athira & K.P. Rajesh (2024). Phycolepidozia indica (Marchantiophyta: Jungermanniales) an endemic leafless liverwort from Kerala
part of Western Ghats, India. Journal of Threatened
Taxa 16(12): 26317–26321. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9138.16.12.26317-26321
Copyright: © Krishnendhu et al. 2024. Creative Commons
Attribution 4.0 International License. JoTT allows
unrestricted use, reproduction, and distribution of this article in any medium
by providing adequate credit to the author(s) and the source of publication.
Funding: The Core Research Grant project of the Science Engineering Research Board (SERB), New Delhi.
Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.
Acknowledgements: The authors are
thankful to the Department of Botany, University of Calicut for the facilities
and support. We also acknowledge the support from the Core Research Grant
project of Science Engineering Research Board (SERB), the microscope procured
from this project is utilized for taking photographs. We are also thankful to
the Kerala Forest and Wildlife Department, and their staff members in Wayanad
for the support during the field studies.
Abstract: The genus Phycolepidozia R.M.Schust. of the family Cephaloziellaceae
is globally known by only two species, viz. P. exigua
R.M.Schust., a
neotropical species and P. indica Gradst., J.-P. Frahm & U. Schwarz, a southern
Indian endemic species. The leafless liverwort P. indica,
so far known by its type collection from Karnataka only, is being presently
recorded from the Kerala part of the Western Ghats. In the present paper an
illustrative account of the species is being provided.
Keywords: Cephaloziellaceae, Karnataka, leafless stems, leafy liverwort,
new record, Phycolepidoziaceae, taxonomy, threatened,
Wayanad.
Phycolepidozia R.M.Schust.
is a fascinating leafy liverwort with many unique features.
Unlike most liverworts, it lacks leafy lobes and underleaves
on its stems and branches giving it a somewhat algal appearance. However, it’s
reproductive structures, both the male and female gametoecia
are adorned with leaves. The genus Phycolepidozia
belonging to the family Cephaloziellaceae was
described by R.M. Schuster (1966) with a single species, P. exigua R.M.Schust.
based on its type collection from Dominica (Caribbean Island). Later it was
also collected from Venezuela (GBIF 2024). It is known to occur on tree trunks
in humid rainforest in the tropical American region. This species was assessed
as Critically Endangered (CR) due to its rare occurrence (Bryophyte Specialist
Group 2000; Hallingbäck & Hodgetts 2000; Schäfer-Verwimp 2010). A second species was added to this
genus after 37 years from India by Gradstein et al. (2014), as P. indica Gradst., J.-P.Frahm & U.Schwarz
from the forests of the Western Ghats of Karnataka state in Peninsular India.
During our recent
survey in the Wayanad District of Kerala state (Figure 1), we came across an
unusual interesting plant specimen, and even mistook it for an alga due to its
leafless stem. However, on closer observation, we could confirm it as P. indica.
Materials and Methods
The bryophyte
collection was made during December 2023 near the Tentgram,
a popular tourist destination, amidst thick forest in the Wayanad district of
Kerala. The leafless liverwort was found growing on a large, rocky patch. The
morphological features were studied under a Leica SApo
stereo microscope, and internal features using an Olympus CX21liLED compound
microscope. The photomicrographs were recorded using Magcam
DC5 5.1MP camera and Magnus Analytics MagVision
software (version x64.4.8.15674.2-01991008). The voucher specimens are housed
in the Calicut University Herbarium (CALI).
Taxonomic Treatment
Phycolepidozia indica Gradst.,
J.-P. Frahm & U. Schwarz, Taxon 63(3): 499. 2014. – Type: INDIA, Western
Ghats, Karnataka State, Coorg District, trail to the summit of mount Tandiandamol, 25.9 km south-west of Madikeri,
1,610 m, on a shaded rock in remnant forest along the trail, 12.2208 0N,
75.6095 0E, 11 November 2012, U.Schwarz,
J.-P.Frahm & F.Schumm s.n. (PC). (Image 1).
Plant monoecious,
pale green to dark green, green to blackish when dried, caespitose,
bristles like mats on rocks, shoots leafless, arising from rhizomes, 2.30–5.29
mm long, 0.12–0.17 mm thick. Stem straight to remotely angled, irregularly
branched, branches 0.51–2.63 mm long, 0.11–0.15 mm thick with pointed tip,
devoid of leaves, but with alternatingly protruding few-celled hyaline
projections on lateral sides representing vestigial leaves; in surface view the
dorsal epidermal cells oblong, thick walled, green; ventral epidermal cells
short, rectangular and pale green. Stem cross section shows 18–21 cells
across, 280–300 × 170–180 μm in diameter; the outer cortical cells green, chlorophyllous, thick walled, small sized, 8–15 × 5–13 μm, arranged in 4–5 layers of cells; the inner medullary
cells hyaline, non chlorophyllous, thin walled,
larger, 18–23 × 13–19 μm, arranged in 4–5 layers of cells; branches greenish,
arising from ventral sides in straight angles, erect, small hyaline projections
on either side of stem representing the leaf position. Rhizoids hyaline and
smooth, arising from the rhizomes, also present on shoot tip. Gametoecia leafy, colourless,
arising from short branches. Androecia terminal or intercalary in position,
mostly adjacent to the perianth, comprising 6–7 leaf-like bifid appendages or
bracts, 0.9–1.2 mm, cells chlorophyllous, 19–30 ×
11–15 μm.
Gynoecia terminal on short branches, bracts and bracteoles connate,
female bract in 2–3 series, innermost bract 0.3–0.4 mm long; perianth 0.8–1.2 ×
0.30–0.37 mm, 6-keeled with green base and hyaline tip, orange to brown cover
on its tip, cells hyaline, 46–81 × 11–24 μm.
Cells of perianth and male and female bracts contain 5–8 globular oil bodies.
Seta very thin, 3 mm long; capsule cylindrical; spores
immature, spherical, 17–19 μm in diameter, brownish
yellow; elaters 213–239 × 15–18 μm, brownish, with
strong bi-spiral bands.
Habitat: The species
was collected near to semi evergreen forest from a shady large rocky patch
where water drips regularly.
Distribution: India,
southern Western Ghats, Karnataka (Coorg District), and Kerala (Wayanad
district – present study), endemic.
Specimen examined:
India: Kerala, Wayanad District, Thollayiram kandi, Tentgram (1,180 m),
02.12.2023, 11.4903 0N, 76.0995 0E, coll. K.P. Rajesh, #202511 (CALI).
Discussion
Schuster (1966)
considered Phycolepidozia under a separate
family Phycolepidoziaceae R.M.Schust. when he first described P. exigua. However, based on the molecular analysis
Gradstein et al. (2014) concluded that the genus is closely related to Cephaloziellaceae and included it under Cephaloziellaceae.
The Wayanad region is known with a rich Bryoflora
comprising more than 170 species, including endemics such as Trichostomum wayanadense
Nair et al., Amphidium gangulii Nair et al., Pinnatella
enrothiana Manju et al., Acidodontium
indicum Vineesha et
al., etc (Nair et al. 2005; Manju et al. 2023; Vineesha et al. 2023). The present finding of a curious
genus, Phycolepidozia, also signifies
the quality of the habitats in the Wayanad region in supporting a rich
biodiversity. However, due to the small size of the plant, the chance to ignore
or miss many species is high. The continued intensive surveys in the habitats
of the Western Ghats are proved worthy in documenting many more taxa. The
present location of the species, Wayanad, is about 82 km (aerial distance) from
the earlier known localities in Karnataka State. Like P. exigua,
the present species is also very rare as it is known only from two locations
with very small extent of occurrence and area of occupancy and hence may be
threatened.
For
figure & image - - click here for full PDF
References
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