Telaranea praenitens (Lehm. & Lindenb.) E.A.Hodgs.
Telaranea praenitens var. dentifolia J.J.Engel & Merrill, Phytologia 79: 253. June 1996 (1995).
Holotype: New Zealand, South Is., Fiordland, Dusky Sound, Supper Cove, 11 Feb. 1946, Allan, as Lepidozia gottscheana (CHR); isotype: (F).
Leaves, half-leaves, and rarely lobes with disc margins sporadically armed with 1(2) multicellular teeth; leaf lobes (at least the median) often 5–6 cells wide at base; cells of lobe bases at times ± isodiametric; end walls of marginal cells of disc and lobes often indistinctly or not swollen and protruding.
Distribution and Ecology : Endemic to New Zealand: South Island (15–250 m). Known only from Fiordland and Westland (Lake Paringa) EPs.
Known from a limited number of collections, all from the wet, southwestern sector of South Island. The type occurred intimately intermixed with Riccardia sp., and the Lake Paringa collection is mixed with Rhaphidorrhynchium amoenum. The variety appears to be a lowland forest plant.
Comments : This variety and the typical expression of the species both have rather deeply divided, palmately lobed leaves which distinguish Telaranea praenitens from other members of the sect. Neolepidozia, although the septa between cells are not so distinctly swollen and protruding as in var. praenitens. The combination of rather broad leaf lobes, marginal teeth (Fig. 55: 11) and papillose surface are reminiscent of Temnoma spp.; the well-developed stem hyaloderm, however, marks this plant as a Telaranea.
