Trachyphyllum

Linis, V. C. & Logatoc, E. L., 2024, The genus Trachyphyllum (Sematophyllaceae s. l., Bryophyta) in the Philippines, with a new species record for Malesia, Arctoa 33 (2), pp. 160-165 : 161-163

Key to species of Trachyphyllum in the Philippines

1. Branch leaves ovate-lanceolate with a long, gradually tapered apex; alar cells extending up the margin less than 1/3 the leaf length ................... T. dusenii

— Branch leaves ovate to broadly ovate with a more abruptly tapered apex; alar cells extending (1/3) 1/2 the leaf ength ........................................ T. inflexum

1. Trachyphyllum dusenii (Müll. Hal. ex Broth.) Broth., Nat. Pflanzenfam. I (3): 890. 1907. — Pylaisia dusenii Müll. Hal. ex Broth., Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 24: 261. 1897. ( Fig. 1 )

Description: Plants yellow-green to dull golden brown, in dense mats. Stems creeping, 2.5–3.0 cm long, 60–90 µm by 50–75 µm in cross-section, ovoid, without central strand; cortical cells 2- or 3-layered, 4.5–8 µm by 4–6 µm, rounded-quadrate, thick-walled; medullary cells 8–22 µm by 6–16 µm, rounded-quadrate to rounded or hexagonal, thin-walled; rhizoids emerging from the ventral side. Branches 2.5–4.5 mm long, slightly curved when dry, straight when moist. Stem leaves broadly ovate, long acuminate, 0.65–0.75 mm long by 0.25–0.40 mm wide, similar in areolation with branch leaves. Branch leaves ovate-lanceolate to broadly lanceolate, plane to faintly concave, imbricate, erecto-patent, 0.45–0.55 mm long by 0.19–0.25 mm wide; margins entire to faintly toothed; apices acuminate, wide-spreading to recurved; costa double, extending to about 1/4–1/3 of the leaf’s length. Upper leaf cells linear, 30–51 µm long by 4–6 µm wide in distal portions, 20–30.5 µm long by 4–6.5 µm wide near the alar region, papillose at both ends, sometimes epapillate at the apex. Alar cells differentiat- ed, quadrate to quadrate-rectangular, 8–10 µm long by 4–6.5 µm wide, epapillate, forming a distinct region extending less than 1/3 the leaf length. Sporophyte not observed.

Additional descriptions and illustrations: Buck (1979: 387; 388, figs. 14 & 15), Buck & Griffin (1984: 63).

Specimen examined: LUZON ISLAND: Ilocos Norte Province, Solsona Municipality, on the bank of Padsan River, on the lower part of Mt. Sicapoo , Cordillera Central , 18.009861°N, 120.852314°E, ca. 413 m elev., corticolous on the stem of a small riparian tree, 26.XII.2018 , V. C. Linis 2015-18 (CAHUP, PNH, VBGI).

Distribution and ecology: This species has previously been recorded in various localities across Africa ( Buck, 1979), the Indian subcontinent ( Kariyappa & Daniels, 2010), and South America ( Buck & Griffin, 1984; Carvalho-Silva et al., 2014). It is now reported here as a new record for the Philippines and the Malesian phytogeographic region, known thus far from a single locality in the northern part of the Cordillera Central on northern Luzon Island ( Fig. 3 ). Throughout its range, the species appears to be either epilithic or epiphytic, typically found in areas with a relatively drier climate at elevations ranging from 400 to 1400 meters.

Notes: In the field, plants of Trachyphyllum dusenii can be distinguished from the similar-looking T. inflexum by its wide-spreading to recurved branch leaves when dry, which are narrower than those of other species in the genus ( Buck, 1979). The Philippine material, despite being sterile, is attributable to this species as it exhibits ovate-lanceolate branch leaves with gradually tapered apices and an alar region that extends up the margin only less than 1/3 the leaf length typical of T. dusenii . This contrasts with the ovate branch leaves of T. inflexum , which have stout, abruptly tapering apices and an alar region extending to approximately half the leaf length—features consistently observed in all examined Philippine specimens of this species. Additionally, plants of T. inflexum have more conspicuously papillose upper leaf cells whereas those of T. dusenii tend to have less conspicuous papillae and, as in the Philippine material, sometimes lack papillae altogether.

2. Trachyphyllum inflexum (Harv.) A. Gepp, Cat. Afr. Pl. 2(2): 299. 1901. — Hypnum inflexum Harv., Icon. Pl. [Hooker] 1: pl. 24. 1836. (Fig. 2)

Trachyphyllum papuanum (Broth.) Broth., Nat. Pflanzenfam. I (3): 890. 1907. — Leptohymenium papuanum Broth., Öfvers. Finska Vetensk.-Soc. Förh. 40: 183. 1898. Synonymized by Buck (1979).

Description: Plants green to golden brown, in dense mats. Stems creeping, 3.0– 3.5 cm long, 78–110 µm by 70–84 µm in cross-section, ovoid, without central strand; cortical cells 2- to 4-layered, 4–7.5 µm by 4–6.5 µm, rounded-quadrate, thick-walled; medullary cells 7.5–22 µm by 6–15.5 µm, rounded-quadrate to hexagonal, thin-walled; rhizoids emerging from the ventral side. Branches 2.5– 4.5 mm long, curled when dry, straight when moist, prostrate. Stem leaves broadly ovate, long acuminate, 0.75– 1.00 mm long by 0.50–0.65 mm wide, similar in areolation with branch leaves. Branch leaves predominantly ovate, slightly concave, imbricate, 0.40–0.50 mm long by 0.20–0.50 mm wide; margins entire, becoming serrulate towards the upper half; apices stout, abruptly tapered at tips; costa double, extending to about 1/3–1/2 of the leaf’s length. Upper leaf cells strongly papillose at both ends, long-rhomboidal and 30–52 µm long by 4.5–6.5 µm wide in distal portions, long-linear and 21–31 µm long by 4–6 µm wide near the alar region. Alar cells differentiated, quadrate to quadrate-rectangular, 8–10 µm long by 4–6 µm wide, epapillate, forming a distinct region extending 1/3–1/2 leaf length. Perichaetial leaves ovate-lanceolate, long acuminate, 1.50–1.80 mm long; ecostate; cells long-rhomboidal. Setae 8.0–10.0 mm long, smooth, reddish. Capsules exserted, inclined, asymmetrically ellipsoidal, 0.8–1.0 mm long; exothecial cells quadrate to rectangular, thin-walled, not collenchymatous; peristome double, exostome and endostome characteristic of the genus. Spores spherical to ovoid, up to 25 µm, finely papillose. Calyptra cucullate, smooth, naked.

Additional descriptions and illustrations: Bartram (1939: 305; pl. 23, fig. 389), Buck (1979: 384; 383, figs. 1–7), Norris & Koponen (1990: 8).

Specimens examined: LUZON ISLAND: Pangasinan Province, Mangatarem Municipality, Barangay Malabobo, on the bank of Baracbac River , north of Manleluag Spring Protected Landscape on the lower part of Zambales Mountain Range , 15.683253°N, 120.264969°E, ca. 510 m elev., corticolous on decorticating log in a secondary lowland forest, 29.X.2016 ,

Fig. 2. Trachyphyllum inflexum

(Harv.) A. Gepp. (A) The habit of the plant, moist. (B) Detail of the plant’s branch. (C) Branch leaves, adaxial view.

(D) Stem leaves , adaxial view. (E) Leaf apex, adaxial view. (F) Upper marginal lamina cells. (G) Median laminal cells.

(H) The base of the branch leaf showing the costa. (I) Alar region of the branch leaf. (J) Cross-section of the stem. (K)

Perichaetium. (L) Perichaetial leaves.

(M) Leaf apex of a perichaetial leaf. (N)

Capsule. All from V.C. Linis 5400-17

(PNH). Scale bars: A = 1 cm; B = 10 mm;

N = 5 mm; C, D, K, L = 0.5 mm; E = 80

µm; F, G, H, I, J = 50 µm; M = 10 µm. V. C . Linis 5116-16 ( PNH); Nueva Ecija Province, Cuyapo Municipality, Mount Bangcay , 15.778333°N, 120.733611°E, ca. 360 m elev., corticolous on Samanea saman in a mixed secondary lowland forest and agricultural plot, 11.XII.2017, V . C . Linis 5400-17 ( PNH); Pampanga Province, Arayat Municipality, Barangay Baño, adjacent to Baño Spring , near Mount Arayat National Park on the lower part of Mount Arayat , 15.183333°N, 120.799712°E, ca. 90 m elev., corticolous on a tree inside a reforestation site, 13.XII.2003, V . C . Linis 718- 03 ( PNH); Bulacan Province, San Rafael Municipality , on bark of mango tree, 5.IX.1960, N . Veloira 230 ( CAHUP); Rizal Province, Mount Susong Dalaga, VIII.1917, Ramos & Edaño 29443 ( PNH); City of Manila, Luneta Park, VIII.1917, R . F . Ramos 44 ( PNH); Laguna Province, Municipality of Los Baños, University of the Philippines Los Baños, 09.X.1987, M . D. Avelino 64 ( PNH); Batangas Province, Talim Point , 18.XII.1984, M . Onraedt s.n. ( CAHUP). MINDORO ISLAND : Mindoro Occidental Province, Mamburao Municipality, Barangay Tangkalan, Sitio Biguhan, 13.316671°N, 120.616672°E, corticolous on a dead tree within agricultural land, on a tree trunk, 26. I .2006, V . C . Linis 1495-06 ( PNH); ibid., Rizal Municipality , Mayupan, 50 m elev., on tree trunk, 4.XI.1976, A . R . Alvarez 0-76 ( CAHUP). PANAY ISLAND : Iloilo Province, Igrabas Municipality, Barangay Passi, Nasadjaan Falls , on calcareous rock along trail, 1.IV.1984, B . C . Tan 84-90 ( CAHUP) .

Figures

Fig. 1. Trachyphyllum dusenii (Müll. Hal. ex Broth.) Broth. (A) The habit of the plant, moist. (B) Detail of the plant’s branch. (C) Branch leaves, adaxial view. (D) Stem leaves, adaxial view. (E) Leaf apex, adaxial view. (F) Upper laminal cells. (G) Upper marginal lamina cells. (H) Median laminal cells. (I) The base of the branch leaf showing the costa.(J) Basal laminal cells. (K) Cross-section of the stem. All from V.C. Linis 2015-18 (CAHUP). Scale bars: A = 5 mm; B = 1 mm; C, D = 0.25 mm; E, F, G, H, I, J = 50 µm; K = 25 µm.

Fig. 3. Distribution of Trachyphyllum species in the Philippines, based on studied specimens. Longitude and latitude data for historical collections were approximated. Map generated using QGIS 3.34.10 (QGIS. 2024. QGIS Geographic Information System.Open Source Geospatial Foundation Project. Available at https://qgis.org.