Journal of Threatened Taxa | www.threatenedtaxa.org | 26 December 2024 | 16(12): 26312–26316

 

ISSN 0974-7907 (Online) | ISSN 0974-7893 (Print) 

https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9314.16.12.26312-26316

#9314 | Received 17 July 2024 | Final received 05 September 2024 | Finally accepted 07 November 2024

 

 

Additions of two genera of liverworts (Marchantiophyta) to the bryoflora of Nagaland, India

 

Kazhuhrii Eshuo 1, Kholi Kaini 2  & S.K. Chaturvedi 3

 

1–2 Department of Botany, Dhanamanjuri University, Manipur 795001, India.

3 Department of Botany, Nagaland University, Hqs: Lumami, Zunheboto, Nagaland 798627, India.

1 kazhuhrii@gmail.com (corresponding author), 2 kholikaini4@gmail.com, 3 sunchat1@rediffmail.com

 

 

 

Editor: D.K. Singh, Botanical Survey of India, Lucknow, India.    Date of publication: 26 December 2024 (online & print)

 

Citation: Eshuo, K., K. Kaini & S.K. Chaturvedi (2024). Additions of two genera of liverworts (Marchantiophyta) to the bryoflora of Nagaland, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 16(12): 26312–26316. https://doi.org/10.11609/jott.9314.16.12.26312-26316

  

Copyright: © Eshuo 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: None.

 

Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

 

Acknowledgements: The authors thank the Department of Botany, Nagaland University for providing the facilities to carry out the research work. Sincere thanks to Prof. Rui Liang Zhu, Prof. Pocs Tamas, Dr. Shuvadeep Majumdar, and Lolia Hepuni for providing the relevant literature. The authors (KE & KK) are grateful to Dhanamanjuri University, Manipur for allowing them to conduct the research work.

 

 

Abstract: Pseudolepicolea trollii (Herzog) Grolle & Ando and Schiffneriolejeunea tumida (Nees) Gradst. were recorded for the first time in the bryoflora of Nagaland. This also constitutes the first report of the two genera from the state. Photomicrographic details of the plants have been provided for easy identification.

 

Keywords: Bryophytes, extended distribution, Marchantiophyta, Nagaland, new record, Photomicrographic, Pseudolepicolea, Schiffneriolejeunea.

 

 

The state of Nagaland is situated in the extreme northeastern part of India having a geographical area of about 16,578 km2. The state lies between the geographical coordinates of 25.324–27.020 0N and 93.193–95.113 0E. The state shares an international border with Myanmar (Burma) in the eastern side, while the Indian states of Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, and Manipur are situated to its western, northern, and southern sides, respectively. Nagaland’s diverse topography, ranging from hills and valleys to forests and grasslands, coupled with its humid subtropical and temperate climate, creates a rich mosaic of microhabitats. These conditions are ideal for bryophytes like liverworts, mosses, and hornworts, which thrive in moist and shaded environments. The interplay of high rainfall, varying temperatures, and rich organic matter supports the lush growth of these plants. The rich biodiversity of Nagaland supports a wide range of bryophytic species, contributing to a vibrant and ecologically significant flora.

Few bryologists have worked on the bryoflora of Nagaland. Contributions to the moss flora of Nagaland were made by Bansal et al. (2010, 2011), Chaturvedi et al. (2011a,b), Sale (2012), Sale & Yanthan (2020, 2021a,b), and Sahu et al. 2022. Whereas, Udar & Asthana (1985), Chaturvedi & Chaturvedi (2008), Nath et al. (2010), Chaturvedi et al. (2011c), Chaturvedi & Eshuo (2012), Eshuo (2013, 2014), Eshuo & Chaturvedi (2011a,b,c, 2014), Eshuo et al. (2013a,b), and Ali et al. (2024) contributed towards the knowledge of liverworts and hornworts of the state.

During the bryological exploration in Nagaland, some interesting liverwort specimens were collected from the Kohima and Mokokchung districts. On critical examination of the collected specimens, two specimens were identified as Pseudolepicolea trollii (Herzog) Grolle & Ando (Pseudolepicoleaceae) and Schiffneriolejeunea tumida (Nees) Gradst. (Lejeuneaceae), which are hitherto unknown to the bryoflora of Nagaland.

 

Materials and Methods

The collected specimens were air-dried and preserved in a standard packet (size 4 × 6 in) of a brown paper sheet. The dried specimens were soaked in water for 2–5 min to stretch out the plant body fully and morphological characters were observed under a stereo zoom Leica S6D microscope and macro-photographs were taken by using a Leica DFC420 camera attached to the microscope. The cut sections of the specimens were mounted in 30% glycerine and observed under the Leica microscope and photomicrographs were taken using the Leica DFC40 camera mounted on the Leica DM1000 microscope. The preserved specimens have been deposited at the Herbarium, Department of Botany, D.M. College of Science, Manipur (DMH) for future reference.

 

Taxonomic treatment

Psuedolepicolea trollii (Herzog)

Grolle & Ando, Hikobia 3: 177. 1963. Blepharostoma trollii Herzog, Ann. Bryol. 12: 80. 1939. Lophochaete trollii (Herzog) R.M.Schust., J. Hattori Bot. Lab. 23: 199. 1960. (Image 1)

Plant small, light green to brownish green, branched, branching Frullania-type, intercalary, rarely terminal, 10–17 mm long, 0.9–1.2 mm wide including leaves. Rhizoids are scarce and mostly present at the basal part of the stem. Stem orbicular in outline in transverse section, 9–11 cells across, 126–133.5 × 97.5–99.5 µm in diameter, differentiated; cortical cells 2-layered, sub-quadrate to polygonal, 9.8–15.4 × 5.1–11.9 µm; medullary cells quadrate to sub-quadrate or polygonal, 9.3–17.6 × 8.9–14.3 µm, thin-walled. Leaves imbricate, obliquely spreading, 0.58–0.75 mm long, 0.15–0.2 mm wide, bis bifid, lobes lanceolate, 4-lobed, lobes erect, linear, median lobes subparallel, lateral lobes spreading, lobes 12–17 cells long, 3–5 cells wide at the base, 3–4 cells uniseriate towards the apex, sinus narrow; leaf lamina 4–7 cells long, 11–15 cells wide at middle, margin crenulated; apical cells elongate, 39.2–59.8 × 9.6–12 µm, thick-walled; sub-apical cells rectangular to sub-quadrate, 47–66 × 7.5–13.0 µm, thick-walled; median cells quadrate to sub-quadrate, 19–43 × 8–20 µm, thick-walled; basal cells quadrate to polygonal, 22.5–45 × 8.5–19 µm; oil-bodies not seen. Under leaves imbricate, similar to leaves, bis bifid, 4-lobed, lobes 8–13 cells long, 3–4 cells wide at the base, 2–4 cells uniseriate at apex, sinus narrow. Androecium not seen. Perianth cylindrical, apex toothed, bracts larger than normal leaf, 1.19–1.4 mm long, 0.4–0.52 mm wide, 4-lobed, lobe ¼ of the bract length. Spores brownish green, globose, 12.8–14.4 µm in diameter. Elaters 75–105.6 µm long, 9–11.5 µm wide with bi-spiral thickening bands.

Ecology: The plants grow on moist soil and rocks in association with mosses, and the species of Jungermannia, Scapania, Cephalozia, and Bazzania.

Range: India, Bhutan, China, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, and Taiwan.

Distribution in India: Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland (present study), Sikkim, and West Bengal.

Specimen Examined: India: Nagaland, Kohima District, Khonoma, 25.371°N 94.114°E, 1700–2300 m, KE10424.

Notes: In India, the genus Pseudolepicolea is represented by two species, viz., Pseudolepicolea fryei (Perss.) Grolle & Ando and P. trollii. P. fryei has been reported from Uttarakhand in western Himalaya, whereas P. trollii was so far known from Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, and West Bengal (Singh et al. 2014; Singh & Singh 2023). Therefore, the occurrence of this taxon in Nagaland bryoflora is a new generic addition to the state with an extended distributional range.

 

Schiffneriolejeunea tumida (Nees)

Gradst., J. Hattori Bot. Lab. 38: 335. 1974. Ptychanthus tumidus Nees, Naturgesch. Eur. Leberm. 3: 213. 1838. (Image 2)

Plant light green to brownish-green, 30–60 mm long, 2.0–3.5 mm wide including leaves, irregularly branched. Stem orbicular in outline in transverse section, 0.2 × 0.25 mm in diameter, 9–11 cells across, differentiated; cortical cells 1–2-layered, quadrate to sub-quadrate, 14.5–25.0 × 7.2–21.0 µm, thick-walled; medullary cells quadrate, polygonal, 20–31 × 12–20 µm. Leaves closely imbricate, incurved, margin entire, ovate-oblong, 0.9–1.5 x 1.0–1.6 mm, apex rounded, cells quadrate to penta-hexagonal, apical cells 16–25 × 13–20 µm, median cells 23–30 × 17–22 µm, basal cells 25–44 × 15–22 µm, with nodular trigones; oil-bodies 2–5(6) per cell, 8.6–12.5 µm long, 2.1–4.0 µm wide, elongate-elliptical, or circular, roughly segmented; leaf lobule rectangular, 1/3 of the leaf length, with 2 teeth, first tooth 2 cells long, 1–2 cells wide, second tooth 5 cells long, 3 cells wide at base, 2 cells uniseriate at apex. Under leaves imbricate to contiguous, 0.3–0.5 mm long, 0.5–0.7 mm wide, wider than long, margin entire, apex oblong to obtuse. Autoicous. Androecia on short lateral branches toward the apical region, male bracts in 5–13 pairs, strongly inflated, smaller than vegetative leaves, antheridia not seen. Gynoecium with bracts in 3 pairs, bracteoles lanceolate, 1.5–2.0 mm long, 0.9–1.5 mm wide, bifid with acute apex; perianth obovate-obpyriform, with 3–5 inflated keel in the distal half and a short beak. Spores oblong to globose – sub-globose, whitish-green, 31–41 x 46–74 µm in diameter, spinose. Elaters 292.5–535 µm long, 14.5–20 µm wide with bi-spiral thickening bands.

Ecology: Epiphytic, growing in association with Frullania, Acrolejeunea, and mosses.

Range: India, Africa, Australia, China, Fiji, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, and Thailand.

Distribution in India: Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Nagaland (present study), and Tripura.

Specimen Examined: India: Nagaland, Mokokchung district, Mopunchuket, 26.235°N 94.313°E, 1,000–1,200 m, KE10517.

Notes: The genus Schiffneriolejeunea is represented by four species in India, viz., S. cumingiana, S. polycarpa, S. pulopenangensis, and S. tumida (Udar & Awasthi 1982; Dandotiya et al. 2011). The taxa are mainly distributed in southern India and Andaman & Nicobar Islands with only S. tumida recently reported from Tripura in northeastern India (Singh & Kumar 2016). Therefore, the occurrence of this taxon in Nagaland bryoflora is a new generic addition to the state with an extended distributional range.

 

For images - - click here for full PDF

 

 

References

 

Ali, S.N., M. Paul & D. Singh (2024). An annotated checklist of the liverworts and hornworts of Nagaland, India. Plant Science Today 11(3): 08–13. https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.3066

Bansal, P., V. Nath & S.K. Chaturvedi (2010). Morphotaxonomic study on the genus Brachymenium Schwaegr. from Nagaland ( north-eastern hills), India. Phytomorphology 60(3&4): 150–55.

Bansal, P., V. Nath & S.K. Chaturvedi (2011). Epiphytic bryophytes on Thuja orientalis in Nagaland, north-eastern India. Bangladesh Journal of Plant Taxonomy 18(2): 163–67. https://doi.org/10.3329/bjpt.v18i2.9303  

Chaturvedi, S.K. & S. Chaturvedi (2008). Diversity of thalloid liverwort in Mokokchung and Zunheboto districts, Nagaland, India. pp. 83– 91. In: Mohamed H., B.B. Baki, A. Nasrulhaq-Boyce & P.K.Y. Lee (eds.). Bryology in the New Millennium. Kuala Lumpur, University of Malaya, 513 pp.

Chaturvedi, S.K. & K. Eshuo (2012). Abnormal reproduction in Asterella khasyana (Griff.) Pande, K.P. Srivast. & Sultan Khan (Marchantiophyta: Hepaticae) from Nagaland. The International Journal of Reproductive Biology 4(2): 89–92.

Chaturvedi, S.K., V. Sale & K. Eshuo (2011a). Diversity of Fissidens Hedw. (Musci) of Kohima district, Nagaland. Journal of the Indian Botanical Society 90 (1&2): 28–32.

Chaturvedi, S.K., V. Sale & K. Eshuo (2011b). Morpho- taxonomic studies on some corticolous mosses of Longkhum Reserve forest, Mokokchung district, Nagaland. Bionature 31(1): 1–12.

Chaturvedi, S.K., K. Eshuo & V. Sale (2011c). Fossombronia wondraczekii (Corda) Dum. (Fossombroniaceae): new to eastern Himalayas. Phytomorphology 61(3&4): 93–96.

Dandotiya, D., H. Govindapyari, S. Suman & P.L. Uniyal (2011). Checklist of the bryophytes of India. Archive for Bryology 88: 1–126.

Eshuo, K. (2013). Studies on Liverworts and Hornworts of Kohima and Mokokchung districts, Nagaland. PhD Thesis. Nagaland University, Lumami, Nagaland.

Eshuo, K. (2014). Rediscovery of Plagiochilion mayebarae S. Hatt. from Nagaland, India. Acta Biologica Plantarum Agriensis 3: 23–29.

Eshuo, K. & S.K. Chaturvedi (2011a). Distributional range of genus Saccogynidium Grolle (Hepaticae: Geocalycaceae) in the north east India. Bionature 31(2): 85–89.

Eshuo, K. & S.K. Chaturvedi (2011b). New distributional record for six species of Bazzania S.F. Gray (Lepidoziaceae) from Nagaland, India, and their morpho-taxonomic studies, pp. 45–57. In: Ghosh C. & A.P. Das (eds.). Recent Studies in Biodiversity and Traditional Knowledge in India. Gour Mahavidyalaya, Malda, 382 pp.

Eshuo, K. & S.K. Chaturvedi (2011c). Porella obtusata var. macroloba (Hepaticae): A new addition to eastern Himalayan bryoflora. Bioherald 1(1): 84–87.

Eshuo, K. & S. K. Chaturvedi (2014). Diversity of the genus Heterocyphus Schiffner (Hepaticae) in Nagaland, India. pp. 83– 91. In: Panda S. & C. Ghosh (eds.) Diversity and Conservation of Plants and Traditional Knowledge. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehra Dun, India, 553 pp.

Eshuo, K., I. Jing & S.K. Chaturvedi (2013a). Study on the family Calypogeiaceae (Hepaticae) Nagaland, north east India. Bioherald 3(2): 105–114.

Eshuo, K., A. Lokho & V. Duolo (2013b). Morpho- taxonomic studies on genus Radula Dumort. (Radulaceae: Hepaticae) from Nagaland, northeast India. Indian Journal of Plant Sciences 2(3): 66–72.

Nath, V., S.K. Chaturvedi & P. Bansal (2010). Studies on the genus Frullania Raddi of Nagaland. pp. 171–78. In: Gupta, R.C. (ed.) Nagaland University Research Communication. Cambridge University Press India Pvt Ltd., New Delhi, 249 pp.

Sahu, V., H. Singh, A. K. Srivastava & A. K. Asthana (2022). Diversity of mosses in some selected regions of Nagaland ( north- east India), India. Plant Science Today 9(3): 664–671. https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.1562

Sale, V. (2012). Studies on mosses of Kohima and Mokokchung districts, Nagaland. Ph.D. Thesis. Nagaland University, Lumami, Nagaland.

Sale, V. & M. Yanthan (2020). Mosses of Phek district, Nagaland, India. Rusie 7: 21–32.

Sale, V. & M. Yanthan (2021a). Family Entodantaceae (Musci): Five new additions to the moss flora of Nagaland, India. Rusie 8: 51–55.

Sale, V. & M. Yanthan (2021b). Saxicolous mosses of Nagaland, India. Rusie 8: 12–22.

Singh, D. & D. K. Singh (2023). Liverwort and Hornwort flora of Sikkim, Vol. 2. Botanical Survey of India, Kolkata, India.

Singh, S.K. & S. Kumar (2016). A preliminary study on liverworts and hornworts of Tripura, north-east India. Nelumbo 58: 130–151. https://doi.org/10.20324/nelumbo/v58/2016/106363  

Singh, D., S. Majumdar & D.K. Singh (2014). Taxonomic studies on Indian Pseudolepicoleaceae (Marchantiophyta: Jungermanniales). Taiwania 59(1): 37–53. https://doi.org/10.6165/tai.2014.59.37  

Udar, R. & A.K. Asthana (1985). A new Anthoceros from Nagaland. Journal of the Indian Botanical Society 64: 303–305.

Udar, R. & U.S. Awasthi (1982). The genus Schiffneriolejeunea Verd. (Hepaticae) in India. Lindbergia 8: 55–59.