![Thumbnail: [Volume 76, 1946-47 page 71]](/journals/rsnz/images/rsnz_76/thumbnails/rsnz_76_01_0139_0071_ac_02.gif)
Genus Anastrophyllum (Spruce) Steph.
Jungermannia subgen. Anastrophyllum Spruce, Lond. Journ. of Bot., 1876; Anastrophyllum Steph., Hedwigia, 1893.
Plants robust and rigid, simple or with few branches arising from the ventral angles of the leaves. Leaves succubous or nearly transversely inserted, strongly secund, base stem-clasping, apex unequally bifid; cells with sinuous walls and large trigones. Stipules none. Involucral leaves rather larger, usually armed; perianth terminal, cylindric, plicate above, mouth constricted, laciniate, capsule oval. Androecia terminal or at the middle of the stem, imbricate, saccate at the base; antheridia 2–4.
Stephani describes 31 species of this genus.
Anastrophyllum schismoides (Mont.) St.
Jung. schismoides Mont. in Ann. des. Sc. Nat., 1843; Syn. Hep., 81, 1844; Fl. Antarc., 1847; Fl. Nov. Zel., ii, 129; 1855; Handb. N.Z. Fl., ii, 503, 1867.
Anastrophyllum schismoides St., Spec. Hep., ii, 119; Berggr., N.Z. Hep., 1898; Rod., Tas. Bry., ii, 37, 1916.
Plants red-brown, in tufts or solitary stems amongst other hepatics. Stems 2–3 cm., in plants seen (Berggren gives 5 cm.), sparingly branched, sub-flexuous, apparently no rhizoids, tips incurved. Leaves imbricate, ca. 1.2 mm., dorsally secund, asymmetric, ventral margin longer and more strongly curved than the dorsal, about ⅓, unequally bilobed, lobes conniving, variable, mainly acute. Cells ca. 25μ, varying in size and shape, walls may be sinuous; trigones also variable. Invol. leaves similar in shape to the cauline but larger, plicate in conformity with the perianth. Perianths lateral, presumably by reason of successive innovations, oblong-ovate, deeply plicate, mouth piliferous-ciliate.
![Thumbnail: [Volume 76, 1946-47 page 72]](/journals/rsnz/images/rsnz_76/thumbnails/rsnz_76_01_0140_0072_ac_02.gif)
This species is quite distinct in appearance, and when once identified may be easily recognised. The absence of stipules and paraphylls distinguishes it from Chandonanthus squarrosus, while in Herberta alpina (Schisma juniperina of the Handbook), the only other plant with which it might be confused, the leaf-lobes appear more rigid, and are narrower and longer with a deep and narrow sinus.
Berggren's plants were from Porter's Pass, Bealey River. Other localities are: Moehau, ca. 2,950 ft., amongst mosses on summit rocks; Moehau summit, cold boggy ground with mosses, Oreobolus, etc., L. B. Moore, 1931 and 1930 respectively; semi-shady bank near heated' soil, Rainbow Mountain, near Rotorua, K. W. Allison; on log with Dicranoloma sp., L. Waikare-iti, 3,000 ft., E. A. Hodgson; Te Matawai, Tararuas, 6,642 P. R. B. Herb., V. D. Zotov. According to the Handbook, it is common in the Auckland and Campbell Islands, where it was collected by Hombron and Hooker.