Syrrhopodon stonae, New to Malaya, and Notes on Other Malayan Calymperaceae

Abstract

Syrrhopodon stonae Reese, described from Australia, is reported new to Malaysia, from Pahang. The status of Mitthyridium subluteum (C. Miill.) Nowak as a distinct species is affirmed, and its sporophytes are described for the first time. Mitthyridium papuanum (Broth.) Robins. is recognized as a distinct species and is reported new to Malaysia, from Pahang. The status of Syrrhopodon laevis (Dix.) Mohamed & Reese as a distinct species is reaffirmed. Continuing collection and study of Malaysian mosses have turned up new data on four members of the Calymperaceae, which are reported here. 1. SYRRHOPODON STONAE Reese, THE BRYOLOGIST 92: 302. 1989. (FIG. 1-7) This species was described in 1989 based on two collections from tropical rainforest in Queensland, Australia. This apparently disjunct distribution can probably be attributed to lack of systematic collecting in the regions situated between Malaya and eastern Australia, and may also be attributed to the paucity of critical taxonomic studies of mosses from these regions. The Malayan specimens of S. stonae are sterile, as are the Australian ones, so that the correct generic placement of this moss is still unknown. Specimens examined.--MALAYA. PAHANG. TAMAN NEGARA: Kuala Kenyam, trail to Gua Luas, 180 m, on tree trunk, Zamzuri 9575 (KLU, LAF). TAMAN NEGARA: Kuala Tahan, Bulatan Paya area, 140 m, on base of tree, Zamzuri 9576 (KLU, LAF). 2. SYRRHOPODON LAEVIS (Dix.) Mohamed & Reese, THE BRYOLOGIST 88: 233. 1985. Mohamed and Reese (1985) elevated this taxon from the varietal to the species level. The principal characters on which this species was established are entire leaf tips and the presence of small simple papillae which are distributed over the leaf cell surface, but which also occur often or mainly on the cell sutures (cf. Menzel & Schultze-Motel 1990, fig. 17; Mohamed & Reese 1985, fig. 32). Eddy (1990) reduced the status of S. laevis from the species level to that of a variety of S. prolifer Schwaegr., expressing doubt about the constancy or otherwise of this discriminatory character [the papillae] (which seems to require the use of scanning electron microscopy to detect with certainty) ... . Since the 1985 study we have examined several additional collections of S. laevis from Cameron Highlands, Pahang. Unlike the species of the S. prolifer complex, which in general are characterized by stellate leaf cell papillae and toothed-spinose leaf tips, the recent collections of S. laevis confirm the presence of undivided papillae over the leaf cells and their sutures and the lack of teeth and spines at the leaf tips. Contrary to Eddy's suggestion that the papillae of S. laevis require the use of SEM to detect with certainty, the papillae of the Malayan specimens can be observed clearly and without difficulty using the light microscope. All the Malayan specimens of S. laevis were collected within a narrow altitudinal range of 1,600-2,000 m. Invariably, S. laevis only grows in deep shade on humus, especially in hollows among roots of trees. On the other hand, S. prolifer s.l. has a wide altitudinal range of 300-2,000 m, and occurs on various substrates in partially exposed to fully exposed habitats. In light of these facts, S. laevis must be maintained as a separate and distinctive species. It is known from Borneo and Peninsular Malaysia. Specimens examined. -MALAYA. PAHANG. CAMERON HIGHLANDS: Gunung Brinchang, montane ericaceous forest, on humus in shade, Damanhuri 2004 (KLU, LAF), Mohamed 8993 (KLU, LAF), Mohamed & Zamzuri 1021 (KLU, LAF). 3. MITTHYRIDIUM PAPUANUM (Broth.) Robins., Phytologia 32: 434. 1975. This species is newly recorded here for Peninsular Malaysia. Previously its westernmost range extend0007-2745/92/88-91 $0.55/0 This content downloaded from 207.46.13.111 on Tue, 09 Aug 2016 06:05:31 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 1992] MOHAMED & REESE: MALAYAN CALYMPERACEAE 89