1968] 



LEAFY HEPATICAE OF LATIN AMERICA PART III 



387 



base of the segment 39-45 X 26 n, the walls uniformly thickened, without trigones, 

 the cuticle verruculose. Underleaves one-third to one-half as long as the leaves, 

 bifid (some trifid) to the middle, the segments narrow. Plants dioicous. Male 

 inflorescence terminal becoming intercalary on the leafy stem, the bracts and 

 bracteoles densely imbricate in 5-10 series, similar to the leaves and underleaves. 

 Female inflorescence tufted, on a very short branch, from the caudex or a flagelli- 

 form branch, usually hidden by the leafy stems, the bracts and bracteoles in 3 or 

 4 series, the outer series bifid with the margins entire or nearly so, the innermost 

 series bifid, ciliate-laciniate, and the margins variously toothed and ciliate. Perianth 

 longer than the bracts, cylindrical below, with 3 broad keels above, the lobes of 

 the mouth variously ciliate and laciniate, the cilia mostly of 2 long cells. Capsule 

 dark brown, the wall of 2 layers of cells with characteristic markings. Seta in trans- 

 verse section of an outer layer of to 9 or more large cells surrounding a core of some- 

 what smaller cells. Vegetative reproduction from ovoid masses of cells on the caudex 

 or flagelliform branches which become detached and give rise to new axes. 



PI. 105. Fig. 1, a-n. 



Habitat: Moist shaded soil banks. 



PUERTO RICO: El Yunque: La Mina USDA Station, 1020 m, Fuljord, Crandall & Stotler 

 164 (9, $ ) (type Hb Fulford). 



GUATEMALA: Alta Verapaz: n of Coban, 4400 ft, Sharp 2972 p.p., 2973 (TENN). 



2. Leucosarmentum bifidum (Stephani) Fulford, comb. nov. 

 Alobiella bifida Stephani in Urban, Symb. Antill. 2: 470. 1901. 



Plants small, whitish-green, in compact low mats or among other bryophytes; 

 leafy stems 0.5-1 cm or more long, from a leafless, stolon-like caudex or flagelliform 

 branches; caudex and flagelliform axes hyaline, 2-3 cm or more long, abundantly 

 branched, the branches axillary-intercalary, leafy, or very short female, or flagelli- 

 form and becoming leafy or stolon-like; leafy stems occasionally branched, the 

 branches ventral-intercalary, axillary, and leafy or flagelliform; leafy stem in trans- 

 verse section 5 or 6 cells across, the cortical layer of 8-10 cells, the cells of the 

 ventral side smaller than the rest, the medulla of 6-10 smaller cells. Rhizoids from 

 the bases of the underleaves or in 3 rows of discrete tufts on the stolon-like axes 

 or flagelliform branches. Line of leaf insertion oblique. Leaves distant to sub- 

 imbricate, mostly somewhat concave, spreading, to ascendant, narrowly ovate to 

 subrectangular in outline, bifid to one-half the length, the sinus narrow, the seg- 

 ments lanceolate, ending in a tip 1 or 2 cells long; leaf cells rectangular, those of 

 the base of the segments mostly 39-45 X 15-18 /a, the walls uniformly thickened, 

 without trigones, the cuticle verruculose. Underleaves bifid or occasionally trifid 

 to one-half the length, to half as long as the leaves or more robust stems, the cells 

 as in the leaves. Plants dioicous. Male inflorescence terminal becoming intercalary 

 on the leafy stem, the bracts and bracteoles densely imbricate, in few to many 

 series, similar to the leaves and underleaves, slightly smaller, the bracts bifid, 

 concave below. Female inflorescence on a very short branch from the caudex, 

 occasionally with 1 or 2 flagelliform or leafy subfloral innovations, the bracts and 

 bracteoles similar, in up to 4 series, the outer series bifid, the margins entire, the 

 inner series bifid and with a short tooth on the lateral margin above the middle. 

 Perianth cylindrical below, with 3 rounded keels above, the 3-lobed mouth laciniate. 

 Vegetative reproduction from ovoid masses of 6-jl5 cells produced on the surface of 

 the caudex or flagelliform axes. 



