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6. Genus Marsupidium Mitten
Gymnanthe Hook. Handb. N.Z. Fl. ii, 1867.
Marsupidium Mitten. Handb. N.Z., Fl., ii, Appendix, 1867.
Plants apparently dioicous in New Zealand, medium to robust, terrestrial or corticolous, loosely tufted. Stems from a creeping network of rhizomes, scarcely branched, but with postical flagella, bare of leaves about the base, often with rhizoids. Leaves succubous, obliquely inserted, rounded or oblong, entire or variously armed, often concave. Cells rounded-hexagonal with small trigones, opaque or with contents clustered round the edges. Underleaves absent. Archegonia on a stem protuberance, remaining on top of the marsupium which grows downwards, the fertilized archegonium growing downwards inside it with the calyptra remaining free (observation by K. W. Allison). Capsule long, cylindrical (in M. perpusillum), seta very long. Marsupidium lateral, near the base of the stem bearing rhizoids. Perigonial bracts whitish, spicate on short or longish branches, usually basal, containing two antheridia.
A small genus of about 9 species, mainly in the Southern Hemisphere.
The type of the genus is Marsupidium Knightii Mitt.
| 1. | Leaves and stems setulose, leaf-margins spinulose, often undulate | 4. | setulosum | |
| Leaves and stems not setulose, margins not undulate | 2 | |||
| 2. | Leaves longer than broad, ventral lobe toothed near the apex and narrowed to an apical spine | 5. | epiphytum | |
| Leaves not narrowed to an apical spine | 3 | |||
| 3. | Leaves concave, toothed, imbricate | 1. | Knightu | |
| Leaves scarcely toothed | 4 | |||
| 4. | Leaves almost round, dorsally appressed | 2. | abbreviatum | |
| Leaves obscurely bidentate with a broad shallow sinus, not dorsally appressed, ventral margin arched, dorsal straighter | 3. | perpusillum |
| 1. |
Marsupidium Knightii Mitt. Text-fig. I, Fig. 5. |
M. Knightii Mitt. Handb. N.Z. Fl., 753 (Append.) 1867; Berggr. N.Z. Hep, 1898; Steph. Spec. Hep., iii, 386, 1908.
Plants apparently dioicous (Stephani gives monoicous) medium, ± tufted in mats on ground but more often on trunks of trees, often covering considerable areas Stems 1–2 cm, flexuous, from intricately creeping rhizomes, lower portion often bare or with minute leaves, whitish, distant; mostly simple, rhizoids usually few, but sometimes plentiful. Leaves imbricate, broadly oblong to rounded-quadrate, 1–1.5 mm, insertion oblique, concave, obliquely spreading to sub-erect, dorsal margin entire or nearly so, ending in a spinous tooth, ventral with few to many teeth or ciliate, apex sub-truncate. Cells hexagonal, opaque Invol. leaves round or lanceolate, hyaline, bifid, toothed Marsupia oblong-obconic, pale, 0.3 mm, on a very short basal branch, 2 side by side (Stephani gives 3–4 consecutva), smooth, attached near the mouth Androecia basal or median on branches hairy with rhizoids, bracts swollen and compacted, in few to many pairs, whitish, spiniferous at apex.
This species is recognized by its patent to subvertical imbricate, concave leaves with a broad apex and spinous-toothed ventral margin.
North Island: Whangaroa, 3162, Waima, Otaua, 3169, Berggren, 1874; Rangitoto Island, 4865, W. Millener; lower trunk of small tree in bush, Waipoua Forest, H786, mainly on tree trunks, Rotorua Co. five specimens, rotten log in bush between Lake Roto-ehu and the coast, Bay of Plenty, K. W. A.; Mokau-iti Valley, 20 miles South
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of Te Kuiti, A. J. Allison; Mt. Ruapehu, 6408, E. Tamakis, Dannevirke, 6411, A. L. H.; mostly on tree trunks, Waikaremoana, Morere and local bush remnants, 12 specimens, E. A. H.; Pohangina Valley, 327, grasslands, Wellington, 7031, A. P. D.; Mt. Bruce, Wairarapa, 9587, W. M.; Mt. Egmont, on trees, 10185, 10181, E. A. H.
South Island: Essom's Valley, Picton, 955, W.M.; Cobb V., Nelson, 6418, A.L.H.; Maruia Springs, Nelson, 305, J. H. McMahon; Kelly's Hill, Arthur's Pass, 9607, W. M.; Arthur's Pass, 6410, Mrs. Vere, damp bush floor above Leith Saddle Stream Saddle to Waitati, 888, tree trunk in beech forest, Haast Pass, ca. 1,800ft, H5981, K. W. A. (fruiting).
The type was collected by Knight, no locality stated. Other collectors, Colenso, Kirk. Also from Australia (Ferd. von Mueller) and Chile (Corral), Stephani (1908).
| 2. |
Marsupidium abbreviatum (Tayl.) Steph. Text-fig. II, Fig. 9. |
Jungermannia abbreviata Tayl, Lond. Journ. of Bot., 374, 1844.
Plagtochtla abbreviata G. L. et N., Syn. Hep., 646, 1847.
Jung. (Gymnanthe) Urvilleana (Mont.) Tayl., Lond. Journ. of Bot., 468, 1844.
Gymnanthe Urvilleana Mitt., Fl. Tas., 1860.
Marsupidium Urvilleanum (Mont.) Mitt., Append. to Hook Handb. N.Z. Fl., 1867.
Scapanta surculosa Nees in G. L. et N., Syn. Hep., 62, 1844.
Gymnanthe surculosa G. L. et N., Syn. Hep. 712, 1847.
Marsupidium surculosum (Nees) Schiff., Pfl. Fam., Hep., 100, 1893; Steph., Spec. Hep., iii, 602, 1909; Rod., Pps. & Proc. Roy. Soc. Tas., Hep., 36, 1916.
Marsupidium abbreviatum Steph., Spec. Hep., in, 385, 1908, Rod., Pps. & Proc. Roy. Soc. Tas., Hep., 36, 1916.
Tylimanthus homomallus Steph., Spec. Hep., VI, 248, 1922.
Plants pale green tufted, from interwoven rhizomes. Stems to 4 cm, but usually shorter, flexuous nodding, bare of leaves for often half the length. Leaves subrotund, barely 2 mm in diameter, vertical, very concave, amplexicaul, dorsal margin a little decurrent, insertion otherwise transverse, a short tooth may be present on the upper margin, or the margin may be slightly wavy in outline, imbricate to sub-remote. Cells rounded-quadrate, more or less opaque with contents, marginal cells regular and distinct. “Marsupium 4 mm, seta nearly as long as the stem, thick” (Rodway, in describing M. surculosum). Marsupia seen were undeveloped, the swollen apex of a short basal branch, with one or two pairs of small leaves, and ventral rhizoids.
I am indebted to Dr. S. Arnell for the identification of this plant as Marsupidium surculosum. Dr. Arnell compared it with Sieber's and Frazer's original specimen from Nova Hollandia (Australia) in the Riksmuseum. There is no doubt that Hooker's and Sieber's plants are the same species. The early descriptions and Stephani's drawings of the originals correspond.
South Island: Lead Hills, near Rainham, Nelson, 6404, G. S. & J. S. T.; Revolver Cove, Preservation Inlet, 6393, 6414, H. H. A.
Stewart Island: Forest trees, Pryse's Peak, 9522, Summit rocks, Tin Range, 584, Table Hill, 5411, W. M.
Antipodes Island, L. Cockayne, Auckland Museum Herb., type of Tylimanthus homomallous Steph. The plant from Antipodes Island collected by G. Einar du Rietz in the Riksmuseum, Sweden, wrongly labelled Tylimanthus homomallous is Plagtochila radiculosa.
Also from Henty River Bridge, Tasmania, O. Selling, det. S. Arnell as M. surculosum; Flinders Island, Bass Strait, det. P. Bibby as M. surculosum; Auckland Island, Herb. Sonder labelled Scapania Urvilleana, the last two from Melbourne Herbarium.
The type of M. abbreviatum was from the Auckland Islands, coll. Hooker, and the type of M. surculosum was from Nova Hollandia coll. Sieber and Frazer.
| 3. |
Marsupidium perpusillum (Col.) comb. nov. Text-fig. II, Fig. 8. |
Tylimanthus perpusillus Col. Trans. N.Z. Inst., 19, 286, 1886.
Tylimanthus tenellus Steph. Spec. Hep., iii 9, 1909.
Marsupidium Urvilleanum Mitt. Append. Handb. N.Z. Fl., 1867.
Tylimanthus flaccidus Berggr. forma, Steph. Icones Hep. ined.
Plants dioicous, in spreading ± tufted mats, often greyish green Stems to 2½ cm, but often shorter, erect or ascending, a little flexuous, not much branched, lower portion with rhizoids and smaller leaves, branches from the base of ventral margin of a leaf, but not truly
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ventral. Leaves imbricate to remote, sub-horizontally spreading or twisted, 1–2 mm long, rounded-quadrate, clearly or obscurely bilobed, ventral lobe larger, rounded or with an apical tooth, leaf-apex variable, sub-truncate with a shallow and broad sinus, or occasionally deeper and acute, small marginal teeth sometimes present, dorsal margin fairly straight, decurrent, ventral margin more arched. Cells ca. 30μ more or less rounded, somewhat obscure by contents variously arranged. Marsupium descending from a short basal branch, to 4 mm, obconic, light coloured, seta very long, capsule cylindrical, to nearly 2 mm. What might be undeveloped marsupia on an Atiamuri specimen are only 2 mm long and pitcher-shaped. ♂ bracts on basal branches to eight pairs or more, imbricate, saccate, large-celled, upper portion free, entire probably truncate, antheridia 1 to each bract.
This species, together with Marsupidium abbreviatum were wrongly identified by Mitten as M. Urvilleanum (Mont.), from South America, and this has led to much confusion.
M. perpusillum is distinguished from Tylimanthus tenellus by its shorter and more rounded leaves, and its greyish green colour if this is present. T. tenellus, generally speaking, has leaves longer than broad, with the ventral lobe triangular-acute.
North Island: Mostly on banks and under manuka, Taupo and Rotorua regions, 10 specimens, K. W. A.; Ohakune Track, Mt. Ruapehu, 3,000ft to 4,000ft, 757, Northern Ruahines, 6377, H. M. H.; bog, Maungapohatu (Urewera), 4,600ft, grasslands, Wellington, ca. 1,500ft, 7029, A. P. D.; grassy hillsides and slips near Wairoa, 831, 271, 6376, roadside cutting, Tauruarau Gorge, Napier-Taihape Road, 6375, 6379, Otupae, N.W. Ruahines, 6380, damp bank by path, Wilton's Bush, Wellington, 7010, E. A. H.; also 830 Colenso, and Col. Bolton, both in New York Herbarium sub nomine Gymnanthe Urvilleana, and in Lund Botanical Museum, from Lyttelton, det. Berggren as Marsupidium Urvilleanum.
South Island: Bealey River, two specimens, Lyttelton, S. Berggren; Ashburton River Gorge, 1383/a, Moonlight Track, Ben Lomond, Queenstown, 771/b, J. D. Lovis; soil on rocks, The Caves, Lake Te Anau, 5608, W. M.; Mt. Maungatua, 5263, Morrison's Creek, Dunedin, 40784, p.p. G. S.; amongst tussock on hillside, Berwick State Forest, Dunedin, open roadside bank S. of Dunedin, Bethune's Gully, Dunedin, H5738, K. W. A.; Pine Hill, Dunedin, 5544, W. M.
Campbell Island, Lyall Ridge, R. L. Oliver.
Colenso's type was from damp shady niches on high hill, Porangahau, Waipawa, coll. H. Hill.
| 4. |
Marsupidium setulosum Mitt. |
Gymnanthe setulosa Mitt. Fl. Nov. Zel., 1855, Fl. Tas.; 1860; Hook. Handb. N.Z. Fl., 519, 1867.
Marsupidium setulosum Mitt. Append. Handb. N.Z. Fl., 1867; Steph Spec. Hep., iii, 386; 1908; Rod. Pps. & Proc. Roy. Soc. Tas., Hep., 36, 1916.
Plants dioicous, tufted, terrestrial or on rotting logs, bright yellow-green when fresh. Stems to 3 cm, erect, densely setulose, much or little branched; basal part bare or with few or many pairs of minute, bifid leaves. Branches ventral, long or medium, basal part bare or with minute leaves, or with minute leaves for the whole length, densely setulose and whitish, rhizoids numerous. Leaves 1.2 mm, imbricate, ovate to broadly ovate, unequally bi-lobed or with dorsal lobe reduced to a minimum, margins waved, hyaline, crenate or dentate, spinulose toothed, sometimes all round, insertion oblique, dorsal margin may be recurved, cuticle papillose. Marsupium not yet discovered. ♂ bracts whitish, closely imbricate, terminal on short basal branches, or terminal or repetitive in short lengths on long white branches, not necessarily basal.
Easily distinguished by its white setulose stems and papillose, margined, undulate, spinulose or toothed leaves.
North Island: Coromandel Pen., 55L, J. Matthews, H927 Herb. K. W. A.; Mt. Manuoha (Waikaremoana), 433, G. O. K. S.; E. Tamakis, Dannevirke, 6356, A. L. H.; Mt. Kapakapanui (Tararuas), 834, Mt. Climie (Rimutakas) ca. 2,000ft, 638, 2678, with Radula sp. A. P. D. On rotting log with Bazzania sp. 3,100ft, Mt. Egmont, 10276, E. A. H.
South Island: In bush near Greymouth, 639, H. M. H.; Long Island, North Port, Head of Long Sound, Preservation Inlet, H. H. A.
The type, with Adelanthus falcatus was from the Tararuas, coll Colenso.
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Text-fig. II.—Fig. 8—Marsupidium perpusillum. Fig. 9—Marsupidium abbreviatum. Fig. 10—Marsupidium Urvilleanum (Type). Fig. 11—Jackiella curvata. Fig. 12—Saccogyna australis. Fig. 13—Geocalyx novaezelandiae. Fig. 14—Balantiopsis tumida. Fig. 15—Balantiopsis diplophylla. Fig. 16—Balantiopsis rosea. Fig. 17—Balantiopsis convexiuscula. Fig. 18—Jamesoniella pseudocclusa. Fig. 19—Jungermannia grandifolia.
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| 5. |
Marsupidium epiphytum Col. Text-fig. I, Fig. 6. |
M. epiphytum Col., Trans. N.Z. Inst., 21, 64, 1888.
Plants dioicous, medium, mainly on tree trunks, dark green when fresh, one plant gemmiferous. Stems to 2 cm, simple or branched at the base, ascending from an intricate tangle of woody procumbent rhizomatous stems at or below the substratum. Leaves contiguous to imbricate, sub-horizontally to obliquely spreading, sometimes decreasing towards the apex, variable at times but mostly rectangular with parallel margins, bilobed, the ventral lobe much larger, dentate or denticulate towards the apex and ending in an apical spine, the dorsal lobe often reduced to a narrowly triangular spine, both margins flat or nearly so, dorsal margin never reflexed. Cells 20–30μ, irregular in shape, obscure with contents like minute cellules, trigones small. A developed marsupium has not been seen, but Colenso (1888) describes it as follows: Involucre at bases and forks of branches, small, triangular-ovoid. 1 line long, brownish, glabrous, hairy at top, with a few scattered hairs below; hairs white. Androecia a white basal spike; bracts 3–6 pairs, antheridia in pairs in each axil. Gemmae dark, opaque, of various shapes and sizes.
This species is distinguished from M. Knightii by its narrow and longer leaves. When Berggren wrote that the ♂ plant of M. Knightii had bifid and narrower leaves than the ♀, he most probably had this species. It differs from Tylimanthus tenellus in the rectangular flattish leaves of a deeper colour, and its arboreal habitat.
No. 10198 from bush near Dawson Falls, Mt. Egmont (Hodgson), has surface leaf-gemmae, some of which have developed into minute stems with leaves.
North Island: Log on bush floor, Waipoua Forest, H788, K. W. A.; Mt. Archeria, Little Barrier Island, R. E. N. Matthews; Whakapapa, 449, Mt. Ruapehu, 6352, G. O. K. S.; on Podocarpus Hallii, c. 2.400ft, Hauhangaroa Range, 7012, A. P. D.; Horokino Bush, 1,200ft, Mangapehi, 6367, V. W. Lindauer; tree trunk, Ngongotaha Mt., 6364, rock in gully near Taupo, 6371, dry bank in Roto-a-kui Bush East of Taupo, 6365, K. W. A.; Urewera National Park, 6354 B, Teague; base of tree between Ruatahuna and Te Whaiti, 9374, tree trunks, Morere and Waikaremoana, four specimens, on trees, Mangahao Dams, Tararuas, 10602, E. A. H.
South Island: Westland, 6350. H. M. H.; Facile Harbour, Dusky Sound, H. H. A.; Franklin Mts., Lake Te Anau, 6422, W. A. Thomson.
Stewart Island: On forest trees, Pegasus, 404; on tree-ferns on island, Port Pegasus, 490, trees, Freezer Falls, Pegasus, 5412, W. M.
Colenso's plant was from trunks of tree-ferns, low wet woods near Norsewood, Waipawa County, 1885.