Neogrollea notabilis E.A.Hodgs.
Neogrollea notabilis E.A.Hodgs., Trans. Roy. Soc. New Zealand, Bot. 3: 70. 1965.
Holotype: New Zealand, South Is., Westland, 6 miles from Charleston on Westport side, J. Taylor (MPN ex herb. Hodgson!); isotype: (CHR 135588!).
[Plate 2A–C; Fig. 8: 4, oil-bodies, p. 100; Figs. 9, 10]
Distribution and Ecology : New Zealand: South Island (0–700 m); Australia: Tasmania (for comments on distribution and ecology in Tasmania see Engel and Braggins, 2001).
Neogrollea has very narrow ecological requirements throughout its range. In New Zealand the species is known almost exclusively from low-lying, waterlogged, acidic sites with poor drainage (pakihi). All stations in New Zealand are on the west coast of the South Island in Western Nelson EP within 30 km of Charleston and Westport (see map in Engel and Braggins, 2001, fig. 13). At the site north of the Big Totara River (leg. Engel 21567) Neogrollea occurred in an open Empodisma minus – Gleichenia bog on sandy soil; associated were Goebelobryum unguiculatum and Lethocolea pansa, with few other bryophytes. “Much of this terrain is permanently wet or submerged in 1–5 cm of water, with gradual accumulation of organic matter on wet sand. Only where the sand surfaces and relatively open areas occur, in sites where submersion is rare or nonexistent, and where desiccation never occurs, does the Neogrollea appear—repeatedly so” (Schuster, 1999e, p. 338). Vascular plant vegetation was not in close enough proximity to provide shade to the Neogrollea.
Also known from north of Tiropahi River (Braggins 95629A); at this station plants occurred in a pakihi swamp on the upper side of depressions at the bases of Empodisma minus, and in amongst low Leptospermum scoparium. The plants occurred on humus with Kurzia sp., and were shaded by taller vegetation. The Denniston population (Braggins JEB98502A) occurred with Kurzia, Riccardia and Symphyogyna on damp clay soil with Drosera, Lycopodiella diffusa, Rhacocarpus purpurascens and Dicranoloma. Empodisma minus is common, and the site is dominated by 2–3 m tall Leptospermum scoparium (Engel and Braggins, 2001, fig. 14: 1). Neogrollea forms extensive broken patches in both exposed and shaded areas. The site may occasionally dry out somewhat (as in early Dec. 2000), but the substrate (a thin layer of organic material over a pale inorganic layer) remains moist. At Stockton Plateau (Glenny 7535) the species is associated with many of the same species as the Denniston site. The site, a Gleichenia – Empodisma minus bog, represents the highest known elevation (700 m) for the species in New Zealand.
The description of the subfamily and genus serves to characterize the species.
Comments : The combination of distinctive features will distinguish Neogrollea from all others. The perfect isophylly on mature shoots is so marked that it is frequently very difficult to determine dorsal vs. ventral aspects. Also notable is the exceedingly plastic branching, with Frullania -, Acromastigum - and Microlepidozia -type terminal branches all present, together with ventral- and lateral-intercalary branches. The julaceous habit, the presence of wall pigments, the conspicuous trigones, the coarse surface ornamentation, the strongly concave, suborbicular to orbicular-quadrate leaves and underleaves with broad irregularly 3–4-lobulate apices also are useful diagnostic characters.
