Ephemerum serratum (Hedw.) Hampe

Protonema lustrous. Leaves erect-spreading, lanceolate, the largest 1–2 × 0.2–0.3 mm, coarsely spinose-toothed nearly throughout, the teeth mostly spreading at 45 deg. or more; upper laminal cells elongate-rhomboidal, c. 75–120 µm long, smooth, scarcely differentiated from cells at leaf base. Costa absent.

Dioicous. Capsules spherical, red-brown, c. 0.4 mm diam., with a short, stout apiculus; stomata few, restricted to capsule base. Spores yellow-brown, broadly elliptic or weakly reniform, 60–90 × 54–60 µm, finely papillose in N.Z. material.

Bryan & Anderson 1957, figs 36–42; Crum & Anderson 1981, fig. 218; Smith 2004, fig. 124, 1–4 (as E. serratum var. serratum).

Occurring at low elevation on damp, compacted soil, often among introduced grasses.

Very poorly known in N.Z.; only six collections, collected in autumn, winter and spring (to late October) from a restricted area in the city of Auckland, have been seen. It seems likely that specific search in disturbed soil habitats in cooler parts of the year would extend the known distribution of this species.