save the Blue Tier
tasmanian liverworts - jungermanniaceae
cuspidatula sp.
1. habit: 121020A (moist) on left and 121018D (dry) on right - not to scale
Cuspidatula monodon is known as a monotype for Australia/New Zealand. It is a common liverwort on the Blue Tier, usually found as an epiphyte or growing on rocks overlaid with organic debris. We have found this growing only at high altitude, at around 700m, in Nothofagus country.
However local specimens (designated 121020A) do not
conform to type descriptions in E&G¹ and Schuster²
listed below. Examination of our specimen shows that it
has 1-8 uniseriate
cells terminating the leaf tip where E&G as well as Schuster
report 8(12)-15 cells. Likewise our specimen has up to 18 oil bodies
per median cell where E&G report 3(5)-(7)10. The diagram
provided in Scott³ seems to conform to our specimens than to
type descriptions. It is possible that populations confirming to
type co-exist with the impostor but we have not studied the
herbarium specimens to determine this see below.
Recently we collected a specimen, 121018D, from a much lower altitude (130m), in dry sclerophyll - surrounding vegetation being Eucalyptus viminalis, E. amygdalina and Banksia marginata. It was growing on sandy soil on a slope close to a seepage which had Gleicheina sp.and Sphagnum sp. so it is likely to have adequate moisture available throughout the year.
It is considerably different from 121020A, and we tabulate some differences below. Note that far from being caudate, some of the 121018D leaf tips are obtuse (pix 7). We have relied on E&G description of C. monodon for comparison. Leaf measurements on 121020A and 121018D were done on very limited sampling but we have no reason to believe they are not typical.
121018D: Oil bodies are more numerous,
larger and fill more of the cell lumen than 121020A. In
fact they were so densely packed we have been unable to determine
their exact number in many cases. Both of our specimens differ from
type description of C. monodon.
There was a single colony sporting numerous terminal perianths but
we are unable to confirm if this is dioecious as reported for the
genus.
Ventral-intercalary branches are common, sometimes grouped closely,
but we have been unable to determine the origins of lateral
branches.
September/November 2013 - we checked the colony several times and found gynoecia on terminal shoots as well as on short branches along the stem but none showed signs of having been fertilised; no androecia were present in our limited sampling (the 'perianth' in pix 6 may be an aborted gynoecia and sporeling in pix 9 may be a foreign object). It is possible this is a female only colony. We discovered an association with fungi with stems sporting several fruiting bodies of an ascomycota.
December 2014 - It has been brought to our notice that the type specimen was collected in Tasmania by Dr Spence in 1824 and is held at Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Descriptions by E&G as well as by Schuster are based upon NZ specimens.
February 2015 - We have now examined specimens held at the
Tasmanian Herbarium as well as obtained details of a dozen NZ
specimens and conclude that generally C. monodon is found
with fewer than 8 uniseriate cells with l:w ratio of ultimate cells
being no more than 3:1. Descriptions in Schuster and E&G would
have to be based upon extremes that are not represented in the
specimens examined. However we note that the diagrams in both books
do not match the descriptions but do match the specimens
examined. (Thanks to DG for the NZ data.)
We recently came across a local specimen
with 14 uniseriate
cells at the tip having rather short cell ratios but this is
exceptional.
Please use wide screen for viewing data tables
| Engel & Glenny¹ | Schuster² | Scott³ | 121020A | 121018D | |
| stem length | usually under 20mm long |
N/A | N/A | ≈20 mm | up to 50mm long |
| leaf size† (pix 2) |
0.57-1.1 x 0.75-1.65 mm (wxh) |
N/A | N/A | 0.9 x 1.23 mm | 1.01 x 1.33 mm |
| leaf tip (pix 3 & 8) |
8-15 uniseriate cells‡ | 12-15 uniseriate cells‡ |
2 uniseriate cells |
1-8 uniseriate cells | 1-5 uniseriate cells |
| leaf tip cell ratio | 6-8:1 | 5-8:1‡ | 3:2 | 2-6:1* | 1-3:1 |
| oil bodies median cells (pix4) |
3-10 | 5-10 | N/A | 4-18 | 10->20 |
| habitat | variable | variable | N/A | montane | dry sclerophyll |
| fungal partner | absent | N/A | N/A | N/A | ascomycota |
Comparison of features, both to same scale.
 2. leaves |
 3. leaf tips |
 4. leaf cells |
 5. 121018D stem TS |
Perianth and leaf tip details of 121018D
 6. perianth |
 7. perianth mouth |
 8. leaf tips |
 9. sporeling |
† Measured on leaves depicted here
‡ Descriptions do not match diagrams in both books
* This is probably an error since we have not encountered any specimen
with longer than 4:1 ratio. The original specimen was destroyed and
no photographic evidence exists.
Specimens have been lodged with HO and SYD.
References
- ¹Engel, J.J. & Glenny, D., A Flora of the Liverworts
and Hornworts of New Zealand: Volume 1 p.726-732
Online version
- ²Schuster, R. Austral Hepaticae Part 2,
ISBN 3-443-51041-8; pp 412-4
- ³Scott, G.A.M., Southern Australian Liverworts,
Australian Flora and Fauna Series #2, 1986 (ISBN
064403632X). Diagram on p.127
Page URL: http://www.bluetier.org/Liverwort2/cuspidatula.htm