1962 



LEAFY HEPATICAE OF LATIN AMERICA PART I 



21 



calobryaceae Goebel, Ann. Bot. Gard. Buitenzorg 9: 24. 1890; emend. 

 Reimers, Syll. Pflanzenf. ed. 12. 1: 227. 1954. 



Leafy stems erect from an intricately branched rhizome system, tending to 

 be radially symmetric, rarely branched; stem in transverse section of many thin- 

 walled cells of more or less uniform size surrounding a central strand of smaller 

 cells. Leaves large, entire, the nnderleaves similar. Antheridia borne in great 

 numbers on a broad disc, surrounded by one or a few series of bracts and brac- 

 i coles larger than the leaves and underleaves; archegonia in clusters on a disc 

 surrounded by one or a few series of bracts and bracteoles, larger but scarcely 

 different from the leaves. Sporophyte/shoot relationship a shoot-calyptra. Peri- 

 anth absent. Sporophyte long-stalked, the capsule long, cylindrie, opening by 

 two valves. 



Type genus: Calobryum C. G. Nees. 



As understood here, the family is monogeneric. The genus Haplomitrium 

 ('. (J. Nees. which is usually included in the family, has been excluded because 

 of the position of the antheridia and archegonia along the stem rather than on 

 terminal discs. 



Calobryum C. G. Nees in G. L. & N. Syn. Hep. 507. 1846. 

 Scalia Spruce, Trans. Proc. Bot. Soc. Edinb. 15: 531. 1885. 



The genus has the characteristics of the family. 



Type species: Monoelea blumii Nees, Hep. Jav. 2. ? 1830. 



This small genus with perhaps four species has a disjunct distribution in 

 the tropics and Southern Hemisphere. Each of the species is restricted to one 

 general area. Only one species is reported from the West Indies and South 

 America. 



1. Calobryum andinum (Spruce) Stephani, Spec. Hep. 1: 400. 1900. 



Haplomitrium mnioides (Gottsche ms.) Bescherelle, Jour. Bot. Morot 7: 191. 1893. 

 Scalia andina Spruce, Trans. Proc. Bot, Soc. Edinb. 15: 532. 1885. 



Plants erect, tending to be more or less radially symmetric, light green, in 

 tufts or in cushions among other bryophytes; leafy stems erect, 3-5.5 cm high, 

 from an abundantly branched leafless rhizome ; branches of the leafy stem not 

 seen ; stems in transverse section 25-30 cells across, the cells uniform, thin- 

 walled except for the central "conducting core" six to eight cells across. Line 

 of leaf insertion transverse to slightly oblique, the leaf sometimes decurrent to 

 a greater or lesser degree. Leaves large, orbicular to rounded-ovate, to 2 mm 

 long, entire or with an occasional tooth ; leaf-cells large, 65-107 X 40-70 the 

 marginal rows smaller, the walls thin, the trigones very minute or absent, the 

 cuticle smooth. Underleaves ligulate to narrowly orbicular, nearly as long as 

 the leaves. Plants dioicous. Male inflorescence terminal on the leafy stem, the 

 bracts and bracteole similar to the leaves but larger, surrounding a flat terminal 

 disc bearing a great number of antheridia. Female inflorescence terminal, the 

 archegonia also numerous on a terminal disc surrounded by one or two series 

 of bracts and bracteoles, similar to but larger than the leaves. Perianth absent, 

 The shoot/sporophyte relationship a shoot-calyptra with unfertilized archegonia 

 over the surface. Shoot-calyptra several layers of cells thick, fleshy, 6 mm or 

 more long at maturity, cylindrie. Sporophyte stalk 27 or more long, the 

 cylindrie capsule 5 mm or more long, the wall of one layer of cells, the elaters 

 uni- or bi-spiral with blunt ends, the spores 18 /*, striate-verruculose. Fig. 1, a-g. 



Habitat : On decayed w r ood or over wet rocks in forests. 



