Drucella integristipula (Steph.) E.A.Hodgs.
Lepidozia integristipula Steph., Sp. Hepat. 6: 331. 1922.
[Plate 7C; Figs. 83, 84; Fig. 85: 2, oil-bodies, p. 394]
Distribution and Ecology : New Zealand: South Island (300–1000 m), North Island (200–640 m); Australia: Victoria, Queensland. For comments on distribution see Boesen (1982). With a local and rather sporadic distribution in New Zealand. In the North Island known from Southern North Island (Akatarawa Valley), Auckland (Coromandel Peninsula, Kaimai- Mamaku Forest Park, Cascade Kauri Park and Great Barrier Island), several stations in Northland EP (including Waipoua Forest, Mataraua Forest, Omahuta Forest and Mangamuka Gorge Reserve). In the South Island known from only two sites, both in Western Nelson province (Wangapeka River and Croesus Track).
For the most part in exposed sites or at times in partial shade, over fine-grained, water-retentive, compact soils in areas with disturbed habitats such as on roadside banks and clayey banks along tracks. Also on the forest floor under sparse Agathis australis canopy (Cascade Kauri Park). In the Mataraua Forest on exposed heavy, orange, stone-filled clay of dripping banks formed by quarrying activity. At this site the banks are overshadowed by Blechnum novae-zelandiae, under Metrosideros robusta – Weinmannia silvicola – Prumnopitys ferruginea forest and associated with Acromastigum colensoanum, Kurzia compacta, Lepidozia spinosissima, Paracromastigum furcifolium, Psiloclada clandestina, Saccogynidium australe and Zoopsis setulosa. At Kaimai-Mamaku Forest Park on vertical banks beneath a dense overhang of Freycinetia baueriana and Blechnum in a stream valley under an open canopy of Beilschmiedia tawa and Weinmannia silvicola. At Akatarawa Saddle (Tararua Ra., 500 m) on the soil B-horizon in an open road cutting through regenerating Weinmannia racemosa scrub, under Blechnum novae-zelandiae with Ditrichum difficile, Haplomitrium gibbsiae, Isotachis lyallii, Jackiella curvata and Polytrichum juniperinum. On the Croesus Track (Paparoa Ra., 300 m) on a track cutting under regenerating Dacrydium cupressinum – Weinmannia racemosa forest, with Brevianthus flavus. In the Wangapeka Valley (near Kiwi Saddle, 1000 m) on an overhanging track cutting under Nothofagus menziesii – Dracophyllum longifolium forest with Diplophyllum dioicum, Haplomitrium gibbsiae and Solenostoma totipapillosum.
See genus description.
Comments : The combination of incubous leaves, absence of terminal branching and a leaf-free strip of stem cells will distinguish Drucella from all other lepidozioid hepatics.
Boesen (1982) stated that the outer layer of the capsule wall has pigmented thickenings on all longitudinal walls, with each cell having 6–10 semiannular bands (i.e., with a one-phase development). The capsule in Glenny 9261 (CHR, F), however, is rather different. In this population the outer layer has a two-phase development (though somewhat imperfect), with alternating longitudinal walls having pigmented, continuous sheets of thickening and nodule-like swellings that lend a sinuous appearance (Fig. 84: 4). These walls alternate with those that are devoid of thickenings or have local, non-pigmented, low swellings (Fig. 84: 4). The outer layer lacks semiannular bands. Also, semiannular bands of the inner layer of the capsule wall in the Glenny plant are less frequent than those described and illustrated by Boesen (1982, see fig. 7: 3). In the Glenny plant nodular thickenings are frequent and these variously extend on to the exposed tangential wall as feeble spurs or weak, faintly pigmented nearly complete or complete semiannular bands (Fig. 84: 5) and careful focusing is required to observe the weak bands.
