Lepidozia nanophylla (Lepidoziaceae: Marchantiophyta) a new species from New Zealand segregated from Lepidozia microphylla

Abstract

Lepidozia nanophylla is proposed as a new species for plants previously confused with Lepidozia microphylla on account of their highly reduced scale-like leaves and bipinnate shoot systems. Unlike Lepidozia microphylla, L. nanophylla is an epiphyte on the trunks and large branches of trees especially in low-stature podocarp dominated forest on poorly drained sites, and in short scrub and the interior of well-lit forest.  It is a facultative terrestrial in well-lit situations. Lepidozia nanophylla is more localised in occurrence than L. microphylla, and is known from scattered localities from South Westland in the south to Warawara Forest in the north.  Besides ecological differences, Lepidozia nanophylla is readily distinguished from L. microphylla by leaf characters, the leaves of L. nanophylla are nearly symmetrically lobed, have lobes two cells broad at the base, and the disc cell surface is smooth; whereas in L. microphylla leaves are symmetrically lobed, the lobes are 4 or 5 cells broad at the base, and the disc cell surface is faintly striolate-papillose.  Despite outward similarity to L. microphylla, L. nanophylla is more closely related to Lepidozia spinosissima.