Temnoma paucisetigerum R.M.Schust.
Temnoma paucisetigerum R.M.Schust., Candollea 21: 266. f. 25–27. 1967 (1966).
Holotype: New Zealand, South Is., Fiordland Natl. Park, Hollyford Valley, Moraine Cr., 400–650 ft., Schuster 48103 (herb. Schuster); isotype: (G).
[Fig. 20: 2, oil-bodies, p. 150]
Plants similar in general aspect to a small, remote-leaved, lax Temnoma pulchellum, but smaller in all its parts. Plants olive-brown to pale brown, the shoots 1.1–1.4(1.9) mm wide. Branches sporadic, of Frullania and, relatively frequently, ventral-intercalary types. Leaves remote or subcontiguous to weakly imbricate (less so than in T. pulchellum), somewhat succubously inserted, ± flat, perfectly symmetrical, reniform-obtrapezoidal, 1300–1750 µm wide × 1000–1450 µm long (including cilia), quadrilobed to 0.25–0.3 (uniseriate distal sector omitted), the leaf as a whole with (7)10–22 up to (in gynoecial plants) 24–30 cilia. Lobes plane to convex, 8–13 cells wide at base, each terminating in a ciliiform uniseriate row of (5)6–8(9) highly elongated cells, the cilia ca. (300)375–400(520) µm long, their length approximately the length of the lobe and disc below it, but never conspicuously exceeding it on mature leaves; longer cells of cilia 12–19 × 60–92 µm (4.5–6× longer than wide), thick-walled, the surface smooth or finely striolate; each lobe, in addition, with 0–2 pairs of cilia (the lowest situated near sinus bases and often abaxially displaced); sinus bases not or obscurely reflexed, not carrying cilia with them. Disc 8–13 cells high, much wider than long, lateral margins with 1–3(5) cilia, varying in length, the cilia in part ± tortuous or sinuous, the lowest sometimes recurved. Juvenile and suboptimal leaves symmetrical, with a reniform-obtrapezoidal disc that is shallowly quadrilobed and ends in 4 long, setose, terminal cilia, with occasional accessory ones developed. Cells slightly thick-walled, variable, on weaker leaves only short-oblong, in disc middle 16–26 × 28–52 µm to (20)25–30 × 40–65 µm; surface distinctly and closely striolate-papillose. Oil-bodies present in all leaf cells, but soon disappearing in tip cells of lobes, occupying small volume of cell, pale, smokey grey, 4–9 per cell in median sector of disc, faintly granular, most subglobose and 4.8–5.8 µm in diam., some elliptic (at times irregularly so) and 4.3–5.8 × 6.7–8.6 µm. Underleaves smaller, the disc shorter and broader, ± reniform to transversely oblong, usually quadrifid, sometimes trifid, each lobe ending in a long cilium.
♂ Plants more slender and with less freely ciliate leaves, the vegetative leaves reduced in size, the disc only obsoletely lobed. Androecia becoming intercalary, slender; bracts contiguous–imbricate, subequal to leaves in size, the base ventricose; lobes erect to suberect, terminating in setose cilia similar to those of the leaves, the dorsal margin of ventricose sector with spinose cilia. Gynoecial bracts erect, rather closely appressed to perianth, narrowly obtrapezoidal in basic outline, quadrilobed to ca. 0.2, the sinus bases and sides weakly or moderately reflexed; lobes pluriciliate, like leaf margins; lamina margins each bearing 1–5 stiff, short teeth or short cilia. Perianth ca. 0.5 emergent, bluntly trigonous, weakly contracted to the ciliate mouth; mouth bearing ca. 35–40 setose cilia of varying lengths, the longer 175–265 µm long, of ca. 5 superimposed cells. Spores 9–10 µm in diam. Elaters 8–10 µm in diam.
Distribution and Ecology : Endemic to New Zealand and rather widely distributed there, occurring on Campbell Island (250 m), South Island (80–1190 m) and North Island (600–1680 m). Known from Otago (Leith Valley, Taieri River mouth, Mt. Cargill, Maungatua, Flagstaff), Canterbury (Craigieburn Ra., Arthur’s Pass), Westland (Lake Howden, Camp Creek, Paparoa Ra.), Marlborough (Branch River), Southern North Island (Tararua Ra.), Taranaki (Mt. Taranaki), Volcanic Plateau and Gisborne EPs, with a northern limit at Rotorua.
Occurring in various niches over a broad altitudinal range. In forests usually on soil, or thin soil over rocks, often in shaded, well-protected niches. In the alpine zone on soil, soil over rock, along rills, at stream edges and around pools; the species occasionally occurs on grass litter under Chionochloa pallens and C. crassiuscula. Associated species most commonly found with Temnoma paucisetigerum are Balantiopsis tumida, Breutelia elongata, B. pendula, Ptychomnion aciculare, Riccardia colensoi and Trichocolea mollissima. Other accompanying species are Achrophyllum dentatum, Chiloscyphus spiniferus, Heteroscyphus sinuosus, Isotachis intortifolia, Lepidogyna hodgsoniae, Lepidozia pumila, Megaceros giganteus, Pachyschistochila colensoana, Philonotis scabrifolia, Plagiochila retrospectans, Pyrrhobryum mnioides, Riccardia pennata, R. pseudodendroceros, Sauloma macropora, Schistochila monticola and Triandrophyllum subtrifidum.
