Classification
Class
Bryatae
Family
Fissidentaceae Schimp.
Genus
Fissidens Hedw.
 Nomenclature
Scientific Name:
Fissidens curvatus var. inclinabilis (Dixon) J.E.Beever in Fife, Bryologist 98: 315 (1995)
Synonymy:
  • ≡ Fissidens inclinabilis Müll.Hal. ex Dixon, Bull. New Zealand Inst. 3: 100 (1923)
  • ≡ Fissidens pungens var. inclinabilis (Dixon) Sainsbury, Rev. Bryol. Lichénol., n.s. 21: 214 (1952)
Type: N.Z., near Christchurch, Styx, growing on damp bank, 1 July 1887, Beckett 48, CHR 568236!
  • = Fissidens subelamellosus Dixon, Bull. New Zealand Inst. 3: 364 (1929)
Lectotype: N.Z., Wairoa Co., Turiroa, Kiwi Station, on papa in shade in watercourse, Aug. 1926, E.A. Hodgson 136, BM! (Designated by Beever 1999a, p. 661.) Isolectotype WELT!
Etymology:
The epithet inclinabilis (inclined) refers to the stance of the theca, but is not a useful distinguishing feature as the type variety may also have inclined thecae.
 Description

Leaf borders comprising several rows of prosenchymatous cells on vaginant laminae, poorly defined and incomplete or absent on dorsal and apical laminae. Setae 4–15 mm; capsules inclined to horizontal, arcuate.

 Illustrations

Dixon 1923, pl. 7, fig. 2 (as F. inclinabilis); Dixon 1929, pl. 10, fig. 15 (as F. subelamellosus); Beever et al. 2002, p. 26, figs 1–4; Stone & Catcheside 2012.

Image: R.C. Wagstaff © Landcare Research 2014
Image: R.C. Wagstaff © Landcare Research 2014
 Recognition

Fissidens curvatus var. inclinabilis may be vegetatively indistinguishable from varieties of F. taylorii, but differs from the latter in the strongly asymmetric capsule, and peristome teeth with deep adaxial trabeculae ornamented with fringed margins in their supra-basal region.

 Distribution

NI: N Auckland, S Auckland, Hawke’s Bay, Wellington; SI: Nelson, Marlborough, Canterbury, Otago, Southland.

Australasian. Mainland Australia*.

 Habitat

Usually on mineral soil, but one specimen (type material of F. subelamellosus,) is labelled "on stump". Associated mosses include species of Bryum, Ceratodon purpureus, Eurhynchium praelongum, F. curvatus var. curvatus, F. taxifolius, F. taylorii var. sainsburyanus, and Thuidiopsis furfurosa, all taxa reflecting a preference for anthropic sites.

Recorded from 20 to 300 m elevation (Lake Wanaka, Otago L.D.).

 Biostatus
Indigenous (Non-endemic)
 Images
Fissidens curvatus var. inclinabilis, perichaetial leaf. Drawn from T.W.N. Beckett 48, CHR 568236. Image: R.C. Wagstaff © Landcare Research 2014
Fissidens curvatus var. inclinabilis, perichaetial leaf. Drawn from T.W.N. Beckett 48, CHR 568236. Image: R.C. Wagstaff © Landcare Research 2014
 Bibliography
Beever, J.E. 1999: Studies of Fissidens (Bryophyta: Musci) In New Zealand: a synopsis and key to taxa. New Zealand Journal of Botany 37: 659–670.
Beever, J.E. 2014: Fissidentaceae. In: Heenan, P.B.; Breitwieser, I.; Wilton, A.D. (ed.) Flora of New Zealand — Mosses. Fascicle 8. Manaaki Whenua Press, Lincoln.
Beever, J.E.; Malcolm, B.; Malcolm, N. 2002: The Moss Genus Fissidens in New Zealand: an illustrated key. Micro-Optics Press, Nelson.
Dixon, H.N. 1923: Studies in the bryology of New Zealand, with special reference to the herbarium of Robert Brown. Part III. Bulletin, New Zealand Institute 3(3): 75–152.
Dixon, H.N. 1929: Studies in the bryology of New Zealand, with special reference to the herbarium of Robert Brown. Part VI. Bulletin, New Zealand Institute 3(6): 299–372.
Fife, A.J. 1995: Checklist of the mosses of New Zealand. Bryologist 98: 313–337.
Sainsbury, G.O.K. 1952: Critical New Zealand mosses. Revue Bryologique et Lichénologique, n.s. 21: 213–225.
Stone, I.G.; Catcheside, D.G. 2012: Australian Mosses Online 64. Fissidentaceae. ABRS, Canberra. Version 25 October 2012. http://www.anbg.gov.au/abrs/Mosses_online/64_Fissidentaceae.html