Isolembidium anomalum (Rodway) Grolle
Lembidium anomalum Rodway, Tasman. Bryoph. 2: 70. 1916.
Isolembidium anomalum (Rodway) Grolle, J. Bryol. 10: 264. 1979.
Type: Tasmania, Cradle Mtn., Rodway (MANCH!).
[Figs. 111, 112; Fig. 113: 2, 3, oil-bodies, p. 504]
Plants rather rigid, often circinate when dry in both field and herb., becoming brownish with age in herb. Branching variable in frequency (copious in var. anomalum); terminal branches irregular or regular and then 1–2(3)-pinnate; intercalary branches issuing from shoot sectors basal to the terminal branches. Stems rather succulent (at least distally); cortical cells pellucid. Leaves and underleaves contiguous on mature shoot-sectors, at times ± canaliculate distally, almost impossible to flatten due to their hemispherical-cucullate form; apices rounded to subtruncate, often with a tear (when flattened). Cells at leaf apex swollen and 24–36(41) µm wide × 30–44(53) µm long, the remaining leaf cells rather small: subapical and median cells 12–20 µm wide × 13–24 µm long.
Androecial bracts rather antically assurgent, hyaline. Perianth with distal cells long oblong-rectangular, evenly thick-walled or with thickenings at the corners; mouth cells 12–16 × (54)60–90 µm, with evenly rather thick walls.
Key to Varieties
See key (p. 530) to distinguish this species from others in the family that produce upright, dendroid plants.
The species is subdivided into two varieties; both are represented in New Zealand:
