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Excluded Species
Marsupidium Urvilleanum (Mont.) Hodgson non Marsupidium Urvilleanum (Mont.) Mitt.
Syn. Plagiochila Urvilleana Mont.
Marsupidium Urvilleanum is a South American species and does not grow in New Zealand. It resembles Tylimanthus saccatus in the marginal serrations, but the leaves are much rounder in shape (see Text-fig. II, Fig. 10), and with the dorsal margins more or less incurved, it does seem to be a Marsupidium.
The reason for the change in the citation is as follows: In the Appendix to the Handbook Mitten stated that Plagiochila Urvilleana Mont. had been confused with Gymnanthe saccata, but that the new genus Marsupidium included the true Plagiochila Urvilleana. What he considered to be the true Plag. Urvilleana was Jungermannia abbreviata Tayl. and he made Marsupidium abbreviatum (Tayl.) Mitt a synonym of his Marsupidium Urvilleanum (Mont.) Mitt. In describing the so-called Marsupidium Urvilleanum (Mont.) Mitt. (Jung. abbreviata) he lumped with it another undescribed species, later Colenso's Tylimanthus perpusillus, which provided the marsupium for the description, and the mixture of these two comprised Mar Urvilleanum (Mont.) Mitt. Therefore as far as Mitten is concerned Montagne's plant is still Plagiochila Urvilleana. Hence the new citation for the combination.
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*Marsupidium capillare Berggren.
This is a meagre specimen consisting of a few small stems from Castle Hill, Canterbury, but I am not satisfied that they are not minute stems of Plagiochila Simpsonii Hodgson.
Marsupidium piliferum Steph.
This species is now elevated to a genus of its own and is now known as Pseudomarsupidium piliferum (Steph.) Herzog (1953) on account of its fructification, which consists of a calyptra only, surrounded with involucral leaves without marsupium or perianth Fruiting plants were found in quantity by Otto Renner (presumably) in West Patagonia, and the new publication is dedicated to his 70th birthday by Dr. Herzog. A fruiting plant is in the collection of K. W. Allison, H5880, from Beech trunk amongst mosses, bush, 2,500ft, E. of Taupo, 7/11/34. This specimen has a capsule quite intact, and it is spherical, not cylindrical, as in M. perpusillum Dr. Herzog's description is illustrated with many figures, including a beautiful habit drawing of the plant.
In the Melbourne National Herbarium is a specimen of the same thing collected in 1870 by D. Sullivan from Mt. William, Grampians, Victoria, and labelled Gymnanthe surculosum var. biciliata Gottsche type. But this variety was never published.
The species is recognized by its piliferous or biciliate leaves.
Other New Zealand localities are: North Island, Russell, 6399, V. W. Lindauer; on trunk of Fusanus Cunninghamii Gt. Barrier Island, 40, R. Lloyd; Moehau Mt., ca. 2,000ft, rain forest or sub-alpine scrub, also 2,950ft on ground, H229, L. B. M.; rotten log, Motukiore Bush, Taupo, 9469; amongst moss on earth on rock summit Mt. Tauhara, 6389; on earth under manuka, near Atiamuri, H231; dry slope under manuka, E. of Waiotapu Valley, 6395; on earth, Rainbow Mt., Rotorua, and five others from Rotorua and Taupo regions, K. W. A.
South Island: Lead Hills, near Rainham, Nelson, 6406, G. S. and J. S. T.; near Fox Glacier, 6394, Mrs. Knight.
Stewart Island: Boggy ground, Table Hill Top, 2637, 8509, lower slopes of Mt. Rakiahua, 9629, W. M.
The first known gathering of this plant in New Zealand was made by K. W. Allison, and identified by W. E. Nicholson. It is recorded from New South Wales and Chile by Stephani, and is also found in Tasmania.
[Footnote] * Two gatherings of this species have now been received from Professor W. R. Philipson, of Canterbury University, collected by L. Visch at Misery Creek, Cass, North Canterbury, 22/2/58, Nos. B14 and B36. It is a Plagiochila, but not P. Simpsonii, nor any other New Zealand species. The following new combination therefore appears necessary: Plagiochila capillaris (Berggren) comb. nov. The stems are small, leaves rounded, entire or lobate-dentate.