New species of Bryaceae (Mielichhoferia, Brachymenium) from Costa Rica and Reunion

Mielichhoferia paroica Shaw ang Allen is described from Costa Rica. The plants are very small, paroicous, and have a double peristome that consists of 16 long, papillose exostome teeth and a rudimentary basal membrane that barely reaches above the capsule rim. Mielichhoferia paroica is the only known species of Mielichhoferia that is not dioicous. Brachymenium gemmifarum Shaw and Buck is described from Reunion. Plants of this species are extremely slender, and have red capsules with a double peristome consisting of long exostome teeth and a high endostomial membrane but no well-defined segments. It differs from all other species of Brachymenium in having axillary, obconic gemmae.

Duke Scholars

Author A. Jonathan Shaw Biology