Art. XXXVI.—Description of New Species of Musci.

Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 25, 1892, Page 289

Art. XXXVI.—Description of New Species of Musci. By T. W. Naylor Beckett, F.L.S. [Read before the Philosophical Institute of Canterbury, 5th October, 1892.] Plates XXXIV.–XLIV. Early in the present year I sent a small collection of New Zealand mosses to Dr. Karl Müller, of Halle. He has very kindly examined them for me, and in a letter I lately received from him, giving me the results of his examination, he tells me that, of the seventy species sent, forty-eight are new. Some of these, I think, will prove to be but varieties of species already described. As Dr. Müller is unable to devote the time necessary to work out the new species, he has suggested that I should describe them, and publish them in the Transactions of the New Zealand Institute. He writes, “Should’ you make known in New Zealand the results of your collecting, and the mosses named by me, and should you feel disposed

to describe the new species, I very cordially agree with such a course.” The names are those given by Dr. Karl Müller, but for any errors or inaccuracies in the descriptions I am alone responsible. In this paper I have described and figured a few of the most interesting of the new species, and I hope in a future paper to publish some more. Blindia chrysea, sp. nov. Plate XXXIV. Autoicous. Densely cæspitose in large tufts, erect, branched, golden-yellow above, dull olive-green below. Leaves densely imbricated, falcate, glossy, when dry the apices spirally twisted, oblong-lanceolate produced into a long narrow point, margin flat, quite entire; nerve green, thin, well defined, occupying the greater part of the subulate apex. Alar cells dark rufous-brown, large and inflated, cells of lower part of leaf long, narrow, becoming shorter and more quadrate towards the apex. Perichætial leaves, outer with a broad base suddenly contracted into a long narrow point, innermost lanceolate, amplexicaul, all nerved to apex. Seta thin, ferruginous, length ¼in.–1in. Capsule leptodermous, erect, symmetrical, oval, exannulate, ferruginous. Operculum and calyptra not seen. Peristome of 16 teeth, short, papillose, thin, indistinctly barred, the lower part yellow, hyaline above. Male inflorescence gemmaceous, axillary below the perichætial leaves, bracts concave, ovate - acuminate, antheridia long, mixed with numerous paraphyses. Hab. On rocks. A very distinct and beautiful species, belonging to a genus not hitherto recorded in New Zealand. Log. Kaikoura; No. 263 (named by Dr. Müller). Benmore, 4,000ft.; No. 295. On the ground, Kowai; T. W. N. B. Mount Earnslaw; W. Bell. Pottia marginata, sp. nov. Plate XXXV. Synoicous. Cæspitose, minute, simple or dichotomous, olivegreen, leaves, lower ovate-lanceolate, upper elongato-lingulate, acuminate, carinate, not narrowed below; nerve brown, stout, tapering at the apex and excurrent in a point; margin flat, bordered by four rows of long clear yellow cells, vanishing before reaching the apex, which is coarsely and irregularly dentate. Cells at the base and of one-third of leaf oblongohexagonal, hyaline, gradually merging into small, roundish, hexagonal, opaque, densely chlorophyllose cells. Seta stout, short; capsule gymnostomous, erect or slightly inclined, long-oval, gradually tapering into the seta, chestnut-brown, smooth, contracted at the mouth when dry; operculum conicorostrate; calyptra covering the whole of the capsule, campanulate, base closely clasping the seta until near maturity, when

by the growth of the capsule it splits and becomes cucullate, cartilaginous, smooth. Inflorescence: ♂ and ♀ mixed together in the same inflorescence. Hab. On clay banks. Loc. Cachmere Road, Lyttelton Hills; October, 1887; No. 57. On dead “nigger-heads,” Wairarapa Stream, Fendalton; July, 1889; T. W. N. B. Christchurch Domain Garden; T. G. Wright. Mungatui; September, 1887; W. Bell. Pine Hill, near Dunedin; January, 1890, No. 275 (named by Dr. Müller); W. Bell. In an immature state the calyptra covers the entire capsule and tightly clasps the seta, as in the genus Calymperes, but on nearing maturity the growth of the fruit ruptures the very cartilaginous calyptra, when it becomes truly cucullate, and is pushed upward, covering only two-thirds of the capsule. The plant is therefore a true Pottia. Orthotrichum graphiomitrium, sp. nov. Plate XXXVI. Autoicous. Stems subrepent or laxly pulvinate; branches erect, 1in.–1.¾in. long, more or less branched. Leaves laxly imbricated, patent, when dry appressed but not much altered; stem-leaves oblong-lanceolate, gradually acuminate, comal leaves larger, perichætial leaves longer and narrower than the comal ones. Nerve stout, carinate, vanishing within the apex; margins quite flat. Cells at the base long, yellow, above round, distinct, papillose. Capsule on a very short seta, hardly visible above the leaves, ovate, smooth, striæ very indistinct, narrowed gradually below. Stomata on lower part of capsule superficial, large. Operculum conic, rostellate, with a red line round the base. Calyptra conic, golden-yellow, darker at the apex and base, covered with long, jointed, pale-yellow hairs, plicate, base lobed. Peristome, outer of 8 teeth bigemmate, greyish-orange, obtuse, cilia 8, nearly as long as the outer teeth, broad, consisting of two rows of cells, palegrey. Male inflorescence gemmiform, axillary in the lower leaves of fertile branches, bracts ovate-obtuse, nerved threequarters, cells of lower half brown, antheridia about 12, paraphyses few or 0. Hab. On the stems and branches of small trees at high elevations. Loc. Arthur's Pass, 3,013ft.; No. 176 (named by Dr. Müller). On “ribbonwood” trees, Benmore; T. W. N. B. This very handsome and distinct moss, often of a brightgolden colour, is extremely local, but very abundant in places where it is found. The subrepent mode of growth is unusual in Orthotrichum. It creeps along branches with quite the habit of Macromitrium, and forms patches 7in. or 8in. long.

Zygodon integrifolius, sp. nov. Plate XXXVII. Autoicous. In soft, dense, green cushions, dark-brown below, sparingly branched. Leaves patent and recurved, curled and contorted when dry, linear, very acuminate, keeled; margins plane, quite entire, nerve stout, concolorous, vanishing within the apex. Cells at the base rectangular, not hyaline, gradually merging into minute, square, somewhat obscure cells. Perichætial leaves long, ovate, tapering gradually to a fine point, cells rectangular, uniform over the whole leaf. Seta short, curved. Capsule gymnostomous, just showing above the leaves, oval-pyriform, brown, marked with 8 darker striæ, when dry contracted below the mouth, grooved, urceolate. Operculum flat, with a blunt oblique beak. Calyptra small, cucullate, only covering the top of the capsule, fugaceous. Male inflorescence gemmaceous, axillary below the perichætial leaves, bracts 3—4 ovate-acuminate, nerved, antheridia few, paraphyses none. Hab. In crevices and fissures of rocks in sheltered situations. Loc. Benmore, Canterbury; alt., 4,000ft.; November, 1890; No. 297 (named by Dr. K. Müller). Thirteen-mile Bush; September, 1892. Studholme Bush, Waimate; April, 1892; T. W. N. B. Glenorchy, Lake Wakatipu; January, 1890; W. Bell. Nearly allied to the European Zygodon lapponicus, B. and S. Climacium novæ-seelandiæ, sp. nov. Plate XXXVIII. Primary stem creeping, sending up erect dendroid stems, which are densely covered with matted roots and broad closely-appressed leaves. Branches generally simple, sometimes slightly pinnate, growing on all sides round the top of the stem, the lower branches longest. Leaves thickly inserted all round the branches, plicate, margins flat. Leaves of stem broad, cordate at base, the apex rounded, very concave, quite entire, nerved three-quarters of their length. Branch-leaves from a cordate base, broadly ovate, concave, tapering towards the apex, obtusely pointed, almost entire, nerve vanishing within the apex. Leaves towards the ends of the branches and of branchlets narrower ovate-lanceolate, apex obtuse and very coarsely toothed, nerve vanishing within the apex. Cells slightly enlarged at the basal angles; the cells at the base of the leaf bright yellow-brown; cells of leaf long, ends pointed. Fruit not seen. Loc. Castle Hill, North Canterbury; T. Kirk. This handsome moss has the habit and appearance of the European Climacium dendroides. The leaves are, however, different.

Andreæa cochlearifolia, sp. nov. Plate XXXIX. Dioicous (?). In dense blackish-brown tufts. Stems 1.½in. long, 1 line in diameter, sparingly branched, lower parts denuded. Leaves loosely imbricated, inflated, cochleariform, oval or ovate, margins flat in the upper half and not concave, entire, apex minutely apiculate, dull olive-green, nerve broad, vanishing about the middle of the leaf. Perichætial leaves long-ovate, convolute. Cells at the base long, yellow, rather opaque, forming a circular patch not extending to the margins; cells of leaf small, quadrate, becoming roundish towards the apex, not papillose. Capsule entirely exserted, cleft from base to apex into 4 or 6 valves, dark-purple male inflorescence, bracts 3, antheridia about 5, paraphyses 0. Hab. Wet rocks, under dripping water. Loc. Mount Bonpland; alt., 4,000ft.; Otago; No. 353; W. Bell (named by Dr. Müller). Quite distinct from any hitherto-described New Zealand Andreœa, and growing in situations—in water—very unusual for species of this genus. The nerve is not of greater thickness than the leaf, and is composed of a number of rows (from 10 to 20) of long opaque cells, which branch off in a fan-shaped manner about the middle of the leaf, and are lost amongst the leaf-cells. The margin of the upper part of leaf is flattened out like the edge of a plate. Andreæa pulvinata, sp. nov. Plate XL. Dioicous. Densely pulvinate in large hemispherical masses, purplish-red, dichotomously branched. Stem 1.¼in. to 1.½in. long. Leaves distant, patent, small, ovate-lanceolate gradually tapering to a blunt point, nerveless; comal leaves larger, more or less falcato-secund; perichætial leaves large, broad, ovate, tapering to an obtuse point, convolute. Cells at the base, in the centre, but not extending to the margins, long, squareended, of a rich orange-purple, leaf-cells regular, dot-like, and strongly papillose at the back. Male inflorescence in a round bud, bracts 3, very concave, orbicular, pointed, antheridia 2 or 3, paraphyses none. Hab. On south-east faces of rocks. Loc. Rockwood, North Canterbury; November, 1890; No. 359 (named by Dr. Müller). A very distinct species. The male plant shows the inflorescence of past years like beads upon a string. The inflorescence is truly terminal, though apparently lateral through being pushed aside by the new shoot which is developed im mediately below the bracts. Andreæa arctoæoides, sp. nov. Plate XLI. Dioicous. In fragile dark-green or brownish tufts. Stems 4 to 9 lines long, simple or fastigate. Leaves spreading,

crowded, orange-yellow, apices darker, appressed when dry, oval, suddenly attenuated and tapering into a long point, which is sometimes slightly falcate; nerve indistinct, darker coloured, vanishing in the narrowed part; perichætial leaves 3 or 4, large oval, suddenly contracted into a narrow point one-third the length of the whole leaf, faintly nerved half-way; cells of centre of the leaf at base and on each side of nerve long and narrow, leaf-cells oval, small. Capsule 4-valved, oval, not exserted beyond the apex of leaves. Male inflorescence—bracts ovate, narrowed into a small point, antheridia few, paraphyses numerous, long, thin, smooth, the joints very inconspicuous, dark-orange. Hab. On rocks. Loc. Rockwood, North Canterbury; November, 1890; No. 371 (named by Dr. Müller). Mount Torlesse; April, 1892; No. 412; T. W. N. B. Quite distinct from A. pulvinata in its mode of growth and form of leaves. Hypnum (Heterophyllum) kirkii, sp. nov. Plate XLII. Minute, growing in dense close cushions, stems irregularly branched. Leaves greyish-green, not much altered when dry, linear, lanceolate, gradually attenuated from the base to a slender point, apex minutely serrated, nerveless, base of leaf concave, with flat hyaline alæ with large hyaline cells, cells at centre of base distinct bright yellow, cells of leaf long, distinct, slightly sygmoid; perichætial leaves much larger, erect, outer ovate-acuminate entire, inner ovate-lanceolate gradually tapering to a fine point very slightly denticulate at the apex, lower half of all bright yellow. Seta smooth, 5 lines long, brownish-red, vaginula large, turbinate. Capsule slightly inclined, oval. Operculum conic, with a long attenuated beak. Peristome, teeth pale yellow, lanceolate, subulate, inner surface very trabeculate, endostome consisting of 16 carinate imperforate processes without intermediate cilia. Hab. Growing on trees and decayed bark. Loc. The Snares; No. 370; T. Kirk; 1890 (named by Dr. Müller). Paterson's Inlet, Stewart Island; T. Kirk; 1890. Fissidens (Heterocaulon) ramiger, sp. nov. Plate XLIII. Rhizantoicous, solitary or gregarious, minute. Fertile stems very short; leaves few, two inner ones convolute round the seta, apex produced into a long point; lower ones (2 or 3) smaller, diminishing in size; the vaginant laminæ occupying nearly the whole of the leaf, the superior lamina very short and narrow, and curved into a beak. Barren stems—leaves 8–10-jugous, lower smaller shorter and ovate, ovate-lanceolate

towards the upper part of stem; vaginant laminæ two-thirds the length of leaf; inferior lamina narrow, vanishing before the base, nerve thick, vanishing in the apex, immarginate, entire. Cells large, irregular, hexagonal. Seta short, stout, yellow, three times the length of capsule. Vaginula very wide. Capsule oval, symmetrical, erect or very nearly so. Operculum not quite half the length of capsule, conic, apiculate. Peristome red, teeth cleft to the middle into two long filiform legs, undivided part strongly trabeculate. Male inflorescence gemmiform, situated at the base of the fertile stems, amongst the roots. Hab. On clay. Loc. Lyttelton Hills; No. 376 (named by Dr. Müller). On sod-banks, Malvern Hills; September, 1892. In some specimens the margin of the vaginant laminæ has a slight border of long cells. In several instances I have observed twin setæ in one inflorescence. Fissidens (Bryoidium) campyloneurus, sp. nov. Plate XLIV. Dioicous(?). Densely gregarious. Very small, simple, leaves pale yellowish-green, crisped when dry, lanceolate, very acute, vaginant laminæ half the length of leaf, inferior lamina narrowed below and vanishing towards the base; nerve stout, with a considerable bend where it passes below the vaginant laminæ, which it encircles on the inner side, continued to the apex, where it unites with the border, which is continuous round the whole of the leaf; border composed of two or more rows of long paler cells; leaf-cells rounded-hexagonal, distinct. Barren shoot 7–9-jugous. Fertile stems, 3–plurijugous, procumbent, causing the erect seta to have a bend close to the vaginula; leaves linear-lanceolate, longer and narrower than on the barren shoots, the two perichætial leaves longest. Seta pale-red, slender, flexuous. Capsule short, oval, erect or slightly inclined, contracted below the mouth when dry. Operculum conic, with a straight blunt beak. Peristome deep brownish-red, not inserted below the mouth, teeth cleft two-thirds into two slender legs, the lower undivided portion closely and strongly trabeculate, the bars on the legs placed diagonally, giving them a spirally-twisted appearance. Hab. On damp clay. Loc. Waimate, South Canterbury; No. 150 (named by Dr. Müller). Mount Fife, Kaikoura; No. 267. Benmore; alt., 4,000ft. Patterson's Creek, Mount Torlesse; T. W. N. B. Pine Hill, Dunedin; W. Bell. In the apical leaves of barren plants the border and nerve vanish towards the apex, though in the lower leaves

on the same branch they are well defined to the extreme point. Resembling F. viridulus, Wähleub, from which it is distinguished by the peristome, which in viridulus arises from below the mouth of the capsule. The peculiar twist in the nerve, which is a very constant character, also separates the two species. Explanation of Plates XXXIV.–XLIV. Plate XXXIV.—Blindia chrysea. Fig. 1. Plant, natural size. " 2. Leaf, X 32. " 3. Cells near base, X 270. " 4. Cells from centre of leaf, X 270. " 5. Cells from apex, X 270. Fig. 6. Perichætial leaf, X 32. " 7. Ripe capsule, X 37. " 8. Peristome, X 270. " 9. Male inflorescence, X 32. " 10. Antheridia and paraphyses, X 70. Plate XXXV.—Pottia marginata. Fig. 1. Plant, natural size. " 2. Leaf, X 32. " 3. Marginal cells, X 270. " 4. Apex of leaf, X 270. " 5. Cells from base of leaf, X 270. " 6. Cells, transitional from hyaline to chlorophyllose, X 270. Fig. 7. Immature capsule, showing the calyptra covering the whole fruit and clasping the seta, X 12. " 8. Ripe capsule with calyptra, X 32. " 9. Operculum, X 32. Plate XXXVI.—Orthotrichum graphiomitrium. Fig. 1. Stem-leaf in profile, X 32. " 2. Comal leaf, X 32. " 3. Apex of leaf, X 70. " 4. Cells at base, X 270. " 5. Leaf-cells, X 270. " 6. Capsule, X 12. Fig. 7. Calyptra, X 12. " 8. Base of calyptra, X 70. " 9. Stomata, X 270. " 10. Peristome, X 70. " 11. Operculum, X 32. " 12. Male inflorescence, X 32. Plate XXXVII.—Zygodon integrifolius. Fig. 1. Plant, natural size. " 2. Leaf, X 32. " 3. Apex of leaf, X 270. " 4. Basal cells, X 270. " 5. Leaf-cells, X 270. " 6. Perichætial leaf, X 32. Fig. 7. Capsule, X 32. " 8. Old and dry capsule, X 32. " 9. Operculum, X 32. " 10. Male inflorescence, X 70. " 11. Bract and antheridia, X 70. Plate XXXVIII.—Climacium novœ-seelandiœ. Fig. 1. Plant, natural size. " 2. Stem-leaf, X 32. " 3. Leaf from main branches, X 32. Fig. 4. Alar cells, X 270. " 5. Leaf-cells, X 270. " 6. Leaf from branchlet, X 32. " 7. Apex of same, X 70. Plate XXXIX.—Andreœa cochlearifolia. Fig. 1. Plant, natural size. " 2. Comal leaf, X 32. " 3. Stem-leaf, X 32. " 4. Apex of leaf, X 70. " 5. Cells at apex of leaf, X 270. Fig. 6. Leaf-cells, X 270. " 7. Capsule, X 12. " 8. Male bract and antheridia, X 70.

Blindia chrysea. sp. nov .

Pottia marginata. sp. nov.

Orthotrichum graphimitrium. sp. nov.

Zygodon integrifolius. sp. nov.

Climacium Novœ-Seelandiœ sp. nov.

Andreœa cochlearifolia. sp. nov.

Andreœa pulvinata. sp. nov.

Andreœa arctoœoides. sp. nov.

Hypnum Kirkii sp. nov.

Fissidens ramiger sp. nov.

Fissidens campyloneurus. sp. nov.

Plate XL.—Andreœa pulvinata. Fig. 1. Plants, natural size. " 2. Leaves, X 32. " 3. Comal leaf, X 32. " 4. Perichætial leaf, X 32. " 5. Cells from base of leaf, X 270. Fig. 6. Leaf-cells, X 270. " 7. Papillæ from back of leaf, X 270. " 8. Male inflorescence, X 70. " 9. Bract and antheridia, X 70. Plates XLI.—Andreœa arctoæoides. Fig. 1. Plants, natural size. " 2. Leaves, X 32. " 3. Perichætial leaf, X 32. " 4. Part of nerve and adjacent cells, X 270. Fig. 5. Leaf-cells, X 270. " 6. Male bract, X 32. " 7. Paraphyses, X 270. Plate XLII.—Hypnum kirkii. Fig. 1. Plant, natural size. " 2. Leaf, X 32. " 3. Leaves, X 70. " 4. Apex of leaf, X 270. " 5. Base of leaf, X 270. " 6. Outer perichætial leaves, X 32. Fig. 7. Capsule and operculum, X 32. " 8. Vaginula, X 32. " 9. Peristome, X 70. " 10. Endostome, X 70. Plate XLIII.—Fissidens ramiger. Fig. 1. Plants, natural size. " 2. Barren plant, X 32. " 3. Fertile plant, X 32. " 4. Male inflorescence, X 32. " 5. Perichætial leaf, X 32. Fig. 6. Leaf, X 32. " 7. Apex of leaf, X 270. " 8. Leaf, X 70. " 9 and 10. Capsule and operculum, X 32. Plate XLIV.—Fissidens campyloneurus. Fig. 1. Plants, natural size. " 2. Leaves, X 32. " 3. Apex, X 270. " 4. Perichætial leaf, X 32. " 5. Leaf from middle of barren stem, X 270. Fig. 6. Leaf from apex of the same stem, X 270. " 7, 8, 9. Capsules, X 32. " 10. Tooth of peristome, X 270.