The New Zealand Plant Conservation Network

Species

Fissidens perangustus

Etymology

Fissidens: From the Latin fissio 'fission' and dens 'tooth, prong' meaning split tooth and referring to shape of the lamina.

Common Name(s)

moss

Current Conservation Status

2009 - Data Deficient

Conservation status of New Zealand indigenous vascular plants, 2012
The conservation status of all known New Zealand vascular plant taxa at the rank of species and below were reassessed in 2012 using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). This report includes a statistical summary and brief notes on changes since 2009 and replaces all previous NZTCS lists for vascular plants. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, Jeremy R. Rolfe, Paul D. Champion, Shannel P. Courtney, Peter B. Heenan, John W. Barkla, Ewen K. Cameron, David A. Norton and Rodney A. Hitchmough. File size: 792KB

Qualifiers

2009 - ?SO

Authority

Fissidens perangustus

Family

Fissidentaceae

Flora Category

Non Vascular - Native

Structural Class

Moss

Distribution

Indigenous. New Zealand: North Island (Ahipara, Kaihu Valley, Waitakere Ranges). Also present in eastern Australia (Queensland, New South Wales)

Habitat

Lowland. In riparian forest on the margins of streams in sites that are prone to periodic inundation through flooding. New Zealand specimens have been gathered from basalt, sandstone and silt encased willow (Salix fragilis) trunks in sluggishly flowing streams.

Features

Plants to 4 mm long, yellow-green, densely gregarious. Stems simple, with rhizoids at base only. Leaves in 8–12 pairs, distant, when moist slightly falcate, patent, when dry lightly twisted, lanceolate, 0.60–0.80 x 0.16–0.18 mm; apex acute; laminae unistratose; vaginant lamina 2/3 of leaf length, closed, but with minor half often invaginated near its apex; dorsal lamina tapered to leaf base, with border adhering to nerve in proximal part; margins entire; marginal cells on all laminae distinct in 2–4 rows, narrow, thick-walled and prosenchymatous, forming well-defined borders which fail at the leaf apex; cells of apical and dorsal laminae quadrate to irregularly hexagonal, smooth, non-bulging, thin-walled, (7.5–)9–14(-15) x (6–)7-9(–10) µm. Costa subpercurrent. Autoicous. Perigonia bulbiform at base of female shoot. Perichaetia terminal; perichaetial leaves longer than vegetative. Setae straw-coloured to orange-brown, stiff, 2-3 mm; capsules erect to inclined, slightly asymmetric, 0.50–0.75 mm, short-rectangular; operculum conic-rostellate, ½ length of theca. Peristome of ‘bryoides-type’; teeth 48-57 µm wide at base. Calyptra smooth, cucullate. Spores 19–25 µm.

Similar Taxa

The species is close to F. curvatus, but differs in a number of features, including the larger spores, and shorter beak on the operculum. The costa and border become red with age. The habitat may also differ, with F. perangustus occurring in moister sites.

Fruiting

Sporophytes are present in most New Zealand gatherings

Threats

Fissidens perangustus is so far known from only three gatherings all made from the west coast of the northern North Island, in lowland riparian forest remnants. This species seems to be genuinely scarce and it may be threatened. However, as it is easily confused with Fissidens curvatus which is widespread and common it is possible that F. perangustus has been overlooked. Further survey is needed to ascertain its exact conservation status in New Zealand. Beever & Stone (1999) suggest that this species is very uncommon in Australia

Endemic Taxon

No

Endemic Genus

No

Endemic Family

No

This page last updated on 25 Jul 2014