A new minute Riccardia species from penalpine tussockland in New Zealand’s Southern Alps

David Glenny

doi:10.7751/telopea21437

Authors

David Glenny Landcare Research, Lincoln.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7751/telopea21437

Keywords:

Aneuraceae, Riccardia, New Zealand, new species, endemic, liverwort, Riccardia aequicellularis.

Abstract

Riccardia prorata Glenny is described from penalpine tussocklands of the Craigieburn Range, the Southern Alps Main Divide, and Fiordland. This new species is characterised by its small plants, only 4–7 mm long that are sympodial, have a narrow main axis (160–240 µm wide), and obliquely projecting (prorate) epidermal cells on dorsal and ventral surfaces and margins. It resembles R. aequicellularis (Steph.) Hewson in size, branching, and the position of gynoecia which are mostly on the main axis. The two grow together at the type locality and share habitat preferences, but R. aequicellularis does not have projecting epidermal cells.

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