Fissidens intramarginatus

Bruggeman-Nannenga, Maria Alida, 2025, Notes on African Fissidens, including F. colliculosus Brugg. - Nann., sp. nov., F. sciophyllus subsp. capeverdensis subsp. nov. and F. pellucidus var. ripensis comb. nov., stat. nov., Cryptogamie, Bryologie 20 (3), pp. 15-33 : 24

FISSIDENS INTRAMARGINATUS COMPLEX: REINSTATEMENT OF F. FERRUGINEUS AND F. SCHWEINFURTHII

Fissidens ferrugineus and F. schweinfurthii were considered synonyms of F.intramarginatus ( Bruggeman-Nannenga 1993, 1997). Fissidens intramarginatus s.l. is characterized by pluripapillose laminal cells and vaginant laminae that are limbate in all leaves of both perichaetial and vegetative stems. The limbidia nearly or completely reach the apex of the vaginant laminae and frequently extend onto the apical lamina. It comprises several expressions that are linked by transitional forms (species-complex).

Meanwhile, it has become clear that the neotropical concept of F. intramarginatus ( Pursell 2007) is narrower than the African concept ( Bruggeman-Nannenga 1993, 1997) and that a revision is needed. In anticipation of a revision of the African species of this complex (in preparation). F. ferrugineus and F. schweinfurthii are here reinstated as species. As a rule, these two species are easily distinguished by the papillae. Fissidens schweinfurthii has 5-8 marginal (i.e. distributed on or near the cell walls in surface view) papillae that obscure the cells, whereas F. ferrugineus has a variable, lower number (1-2 or 2-4 per cell) of punctate to irregular papillae over the lumen and more or less clear cells.