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Genus Chandonanthus Mitt.
Chandonanthus Mitt., Handb. N.Z. Fl., ii, 1867.
Blepharostoma Lindb., Musc. Asiae Bor., 1867.
Plants generally large and rigid. Stems rigid, simple or with few branches, the branches lateral. Leaves imbricate, nearly transversely inserted, semi-amplexicaul, dentate or spinous-dentate at the base, deeply 3–4 lobed, rarely 2-lobed, lobes entire or variously dentate. Stipules resembling the leaves in appearance, but smaller, deeply 2-lobed. Perianth terminal, often thrown to the side by a robust innovation, deeply multiplicate, the mouth slightly contracted, ciliate to coarsely dentate. Calyptra thin, free, surrounded at the base by the sterile archegonia.
This genus was formerly considered to belong to the Ptilidiaceae. It is omitted from the check list of 1937, but re-appears in the 1939 list.
Chandonanthus squarrosus (Hook.) Mitt.
Jung. squarrosa Hook., Musc. Exot., 78, 1818; G., L. et N., Syn. Hep., 130, 1844; Fl. Nov. Zel., ii, 127, 1855; Handb. N.Z. Fl., ii, 503, 1867.
Chandonanthus squarrosus, Appen. Handb. N.Z. Fl.; St., Spec. Hep., iii, 642; Rod., Tas. Bry., ii, 71, 1916.
Plants robust, yellow- to red-brown, in clumps or tufts. Stems alongate to 12 cm. or more, erect, flexuous, tips usually more brightly coloured, ± densely squamate, paraphylls simple or compound, simple or 1–2 branched, often near the apex. Leaves imbricate, squarrose, semiamplexicaul, broadly quadrate, undulate, bi-lobed, segments cuspidate to piliferous, hair-points glossy, may be dentate-lobate at the base. Stipules bifid, segments ovate, cuspidate to piliferous, margins laciniate. Invol. leaves and stipules similar but larger, and ornately margined with secondary segments. Perianth terminal, but may appear lateral by reason of an innovation, large, deeply furrowed, mouth lacerate-ciliate.
Recognised at a glance by the tall reddish stems, with characteristic leaves, stipules and paraphylls.
Widely distributed as follows:—
North Island: Rotten log in bush, Waipoua Forest; shady bank near Atiamuri; stunted beech, covering lower parts of trunk, Tonga-
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riro National Park, 3,000–3,500 ft., K. W. Allison; Whakapapa and Mount Ruapehu, G. O. K. Sainsbury; on logs with Dicranoloma sp., Waikare-iti, 3,000 ft., E. A. Hodgson; Northern Ruahines, two gatherings, H. M. Hodgson; Orongorongo, Tararuas, 7174, P. R. B. Herb., V. D. Zotov.
South Island: Marlborough, J. H. McMahon; eight gatherings from Arthur's Pass region, on ground, logs, beech trunks, etc., W. Martin, H. M. Hodgson, Mrs. M. Vere; near Cass Hut, E. Ensor; Mount Maungatua (very small) and Doubtful Sound, G. Simpson; Stewart Island, L. Cockayne.
Also Tasmania.
The type was collected at Dusky Sound in 1787 by Dr. Menzies.*
[Footnote] * The Musci Exotici says, “Collected at Dusky Bay by D. Menzies, 1787.” However, other gatherings at “Dusky Bay” by D. Menzies are dated 1791, so I should say that this also should read “Collected at Dusky Sound by D. Menzies in 1791.”