Fissidens perangustus
Common name
Moss
Family
Fissidentaceae
Flora category
Non-vascular – Native
Endemic taxon
No
Endemic genus
No
Endemic family
No
Structural class
Mosses
Current conservation status
- Conservation status of New Zealand mosses, 2014 (PDF, 583.87 kB)
The conservation status of 109 New Zealand moss taxa was assessed using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). Four taxa and one undescribed entity that were not included in previous assessments have been added to the list. The conservation status of only two taxa has changed in this assessment. A full list is presented, along with a statistical summary and brief notes on the changes. This list replaces all previous NZTCS lists for mosses. Authors: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Allan J. Fife, Jessica E. Beever, Patrick J. Brownsey and Rodney A. Hitchmough.
- Conservation status of New Zealand hornworts and liverworts, 2014 (PDF, 695.44 kB)
The conservation status of the New Zealand hornwort and liverwort flora is reassessed using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). A full list is presented, along with a statistical summary and brief notes on the most important changes. This list replaces all previous NZTCS lists for New Zealand hornworts and liverworts which previously had been part of a generic bryophyte conservation status assessment that included mosses. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, David Glenny, John Braggins, Matt Renner, Matt von Konrat, John Engel, Catherine Reeb and Jeremy Rolfe.
Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2009 | Data Deficient | Qualifiers: ?SO
Distribution
Indigenous. New Zealand: North Island (Ahipara, Kaihu Valley, Waitakere Ranges). Also present in eastern Australia (Queensland, New South Wales)
Habitat
Lowland. In riparian forest on the margins of streams in sites that are prone to periodic inundation through flooding. New Zealand specimens have been gathered from basalt, sandstone and silt encased willow (Salix fragilis) trunks in sluggishly flowing streams.
Detailed description
Plants to 4 mm long, yellow-green, densely gregarious. Stems simple, with rhizoids at base only. Leaves in 8–12 pairs, distant, when moist slightly falcate, patent, when dry lightly twisted, lanceolate, 0.60–0.80 x 0.16–0.18 mm; apex acute; laminae unistratose; vaginant lamina 2/3 of leaf length, closed, but with minor half often invaginated near its apex; dorsal lamina tapered to leaf base, with border adhering to nerve in proximal part; margins entire; marginal cells on all laminae distinct in 2–4 rows, narrow, thick-walled and prosenchymatous, forming well-defined borders which fail at the leaf apex; cells of apical and dorsal laminae quadrate to irregularly hexagonal, smooth, non-bulging, thin-walled, (7.5–)9–14(-15) x (6–)7-9(–10) µm. Costa subpercurrent. Autoicous. Perigonia bulbiform at base of female shoot. Perichaetia terminal; perichaetial leaves longer than vegetative. Setae straw-coloured to orange-brown, stiff, 2-3 mm; capsules erect to inclined, slightly asymmetric, 0.50–0.75 mm, short-rectangular; operculum conic-rostellate, ½ length of theca. Peristome of ‘bryoides-type’; teeth 48-57 µm wide at base. Calyptra smooth, cucullate. Spores 19–25 µm.
Similar taxa
The species is close to F. curvatus, but differs in a number of features, including the larger spores, and shorter beak on the operculum. The costa and border become red with age. The habitat may also differ, with F. perangustus occurring in moister sites.
Fruiting
Sporophytes are present in most New Zealand gatherings
Threats
Fissidens perangustus is so far known from only three gatherings all made from the west coast of the northern North Island, in lowland riparian forest remnants. This species seems to be genuinely scarce and it may be threatened. However, as it is easily confused with Fissidens curvatus which is widespread and common it is possible that F. perangustus has been overlooked. Further survey is needed to ascertain its exact conservation status in New Zealand. Beever & Stone (1999) suggest that this species is very uncommon in Australia
Substrate
Terricolous and Saxicolous.
Etymology
fissidens: From the Latin fissio ‘fission’ and dens ‘tooth, prong’ meaning split tooth and referring to shape of the lamina.
Attribution
Fact Sheet Prepared for NZPCN by: P.J. de Lange (11 October 2011). Description adapted from Beever et al (2002) by J.E. Beever.
References and further reading
Beever, J.E.; I.G. Stone 1999: Studies of Fissidens (Bryophyta: Musci): new taxa and new records for New Zealand. New Zealand Journal of Botany 37: 643-657.
Beever, J. Malcolm, B.; Malcolm, N. 2002: The moss genus Fissidens in New Zealand – an illustrated key. Nelson, Micro-Optics Press.
NZPCN Fact Sheet citation
Please cite as: de Lange, P.J. (Year at time of access): Fissidens perangustus Fact Sheet (content continuously updated). New Zealand Plant Conservation Network. https://www.nzpcn.org.nz/flora/species/fissidens-perangustus/ (Date website was queried)