| Fulfordianthus evansii | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Marchantiophyta |
| Class: | Jungermanniopsida |
| Order: | Porellales |
| Family: | Lejeuneaceae |
| Genus: | Fulfordianthus |
| Species: | F. evansii |
| Binomial name | |
| Fulfordianthus evansii | |
Fulfordianthus evansii is a species of liverwort in the family Lejeuneaceae. It is found in Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, and Panama. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
The species was first described as Thysananthus evansii by Margaret Fulford in 1941, publishing the description in the Bulletin of the Torrey Botanical Club. In 1992, Stephan Robbert Gradstein transferred it to the genus Fulfordianthus , creating its current accepted binomial name. In the same year, Schuster attempted to move the species to Thysanopsis , but this combination was not validly published. The type specimen was collected in Punta Gorda, Belize, though the collector's identity is unknown. This holotype is housed in the herbarium of the Cincinnati Museum Center (CINC). [2]
Fulfordianthus evansii is a small liverwort with irregularly branching stems that grow up to 2 cm long and 2 mm wide. Female plants show a distinctive forking pattern when reproductive structures are present. The stem's surface is composed of 60–90 rows of cells. [2]
The leaves have two distinct parts: a larger upper ( dorsal ) lobe and a smaller lower ( ventral ) lobule. The upper lobe is oblong in shape, about 1 mm long and 0.5–0.6 mm wide. Its edges show tiny tooth-like projections formed by protruding cells, particularly in the upper half. Under magnification, the leaf cells appear square to hexagonal in the middle of the leaf, becoming more elongated near the base. Unlike many related species, this liverwort lacks oil bodies within its cells. [2]
The lower leaf lobules are very small (0.1–0.2 mm long) and feature a distinctive long, curved tooth made up of up to 10 cells. The underleaves, which are leaf-like structures on the plant's underside, overlap loosely and spread outward, measuring about 0.5–0.6 mm long and slightly wider than long, with small teeth along their upper edges. [2]
The male and female reproductive structures (androecia and gynoecia) follow the typical pattern for the genus. The protective leaves around the female reproductive structures (bracts) are oblong with irregular teeth along their upper edges. The perianth (the protective structure around the developing reproductive organs) is typical for the genus, featuring a small beak-like projection 3–10 cells long. The spore-producing structure (sporophyte) has not been observed in this species. [2]
Fulfordianthus evansii grows as an epiphyte on tree trunks in undisturbed lowland rainforest of Central America, where it occurs at sea level. The species has been documented in four countries: Guatemala, Belize, Costa Rica, and Panama. It is rare, known from only about half a dozen collections across its range. The species has been found in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica, and more recently on Barro Colorado Island, Panama, which represents its only known locality in that country. Historical collections exist from Guatemala's east coast and Belize, though these are older records that have not been recently reconfirmed. [2] [3]
The species is classified as endangered due to several factors. Its habitat requirements are specific, requiring undisturbed lowland rainforest – an ecosystem type that is rapidly disappearing throughout Central America due to deforestation. The species' current status in much of its historical range is uncertain, as many known collections are old. Active conservation efforts and further field surveys are needed to confirm whether populations persist in other parts of its range. [2]
Metzgeriales is an order of liverworts. The group is sometimes called the simple thalloid liverworts: "thalloid" because the members lack structures resembling stems or leaves, and "simple" because their tissues are thin and relatively undifferentiated. All species in the order have a small gametophyte stage and a smaller, relatively short-lived, spore-bearing stage. Although these plants are almost entirely restricted to regions with high humidity or readily available moisture, the group as a whole is widely distributed, and occurs on every continent except Antarctica.
The yellow-throated big-eared bat or orange-throated bat(Lampronycteris brachyotis) is a species of bat that ranges from southern Mexico to Brazil. It is the only species within the genus Lampronycteris. A frugivore and insectivore, it is found in lowland forest up to an elevation of 700 m. Its activity is greatest in the first two hours after sunset, and peaks again after midnight.
Tomes's sword-nosed bat, also known as the common sword-nosed bat is a bat species from South and Central America. It is also found in the Bahamas, but is known from only one specimen collected on the island of New Providence.
The pygmy round-eared bat is a bat species from South and Central America.
Schmidts's big-eared bat is a bat species from South and Central America.
The lovely cotinga is a species of bird in the family Cotingidae. It is found in North and Central America from southern Mexico through Guatemala, Belize, Honduras and Nicaragua to Costa Rica with reports from western Panama. Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forests and heavily degraded former forest. The male is a bright turquoise blue while the female is greyish-brown with pale underparts. Because of its total population size and wide range, this species is not yet considered vulnerable. The bird is mentioned in the Florentine Codex.
The northern nightingale-wren, or nightingale wren, is a species of passerine bird in the family Troglodytidae. It is found in Belize, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua.
Caudalejeunea grolleana is a species of liverwort in the family Lejeuneaceae. It is endemic to Madagascar. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical dry forests. It is threatened by habitat loss. This liverwort occurs on tree bark and dead wood in undisturbed lowland rainforest. The main threat to the species is deforestation. Its habitat in Madagascar has a tropical to subtropical climate.
Fulfordianthus is a genus of liverworts in the family Lejeuneaceae. It is found in central and southern America.
Haesselia roraimensis is a species of liverwort in the family Cephaloziaceae. It is endemic to Guyana. Its natural habitat is on rotten logs in periodically flooded riverine forest from 550 to 1,550 metres elevation, in the humid submontane tropical 'mossy' forests on the slopes of Mount Roraima, where the borders of Brazil, Venezuela, and Guyana meet.
Luteolejeunea herzogii is a species of liverwort in the family Lejeuneaceae. This species is distributed in Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, and Peru, and it is known from more than 25 locations. It grows on dead wood in tropical forest and lowland habitat. There are no immediate threats and it is probably not in decline at this time.
Lejeunea drehwaldii, synonym Sphaerolejeunea umbilicata, is a species of liverwort in the family Lejeuneaceae. It is endemic to Colombia. Its natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests.
Spruceanthus theobromae is a species of liverwort in the family Lejeuneaceae. It is endemic to Ecuador, where it is the only liverwort species known to be endemic to the western foothills of the Ecuadorian Andes.
Symbiezidium madagascariense is a species of liverwort in the family Lejeuneaceae native to Madagascar and Seychelles. It is considered an endangered species.
Lejeunea hodgsoniana is a species of liverwort in the family Lejeuneaceae. Endemic to New Zealand, it was first recognized in 1980 but not formally described until 2013. The plant forms bright green mats up to 7 centimetres in diameter on tree bark and occasionally on rocks. The species is found from the Kermadec Islands in the north to the Chatham Islands in the south, primarily in coastal and lowland areas below 100 metres elevation. It is distinguished from related species by its relatively large size, multi-celled tooth on the leaf lobule, and deeply divided underleaves with pointed tips. While showing a particular affinity for mahoe trees, it grows on various native and introduced trees and is considered "Not Threatened" under the New Zealand Threat Classification System due to its abundance within its range and ability to grow in both pristine and disturbed habitats.
Radula demissa is a species of liverwort in the family Radulaceae. It occurs in southeastern Australia and New Zealand, where it grows as an epiphyte in temperate rainforest environments.
Radula perrottetii is a species of plant in genus Radula, a genus of liverworts. It is endemic in Japan. It contains the small molecule perrottetinene a cannabinoid and other secondary metabolites of scientific interest including marchantin A.
Drepanolejeunea senticosa is a critically endangered species of liverwort in the family Lejeuneaceae, endemic to Cuba. The species is epiphyllous, meaning it grows on the surfaces of living leaves, and is found in subtropical/tropical moist lowland forest habitats. While male specimens have been frequently observed, the species' perianth and capsule remain undescribed.
Porella platyphylla is a species of liverwort belonging to the family Porellaceae. It has a Holarctic distribution, occurring across Eurasia and North America, where it typically grows on tree bark and rocks in areas with adequate rainfall. The species is most common in regions receiving at least 600 millimetres of annual precipitation. The species forms part of a complex taxonomic group that includes several closely related species and hybrids, with populations showing distinct genetic differences between continents despite their morphological similarity.
Frullania eboracensis, the New York scalewort, is a species of liverwort in the family Frullaniaceae. New York Scalewort can be distinguished from other species of scalewort by its morphology. In particular, the small size, lower leaf lobes that are about as long as they are across, lower leaf lobes that are about one-third to one-half the size of upper leaf lobes, underleaves that are only a little wider than their stems. The underleaves of New York Scalewort have toothless or nearly toothless lateral margins, and perianths that have smooth to slightly roughened keels along their sides. Despite some distinctive morphology, microscopy is often necessary to confidently distinguish New York Scalewort from other species of Frullania, and the cells of the leaves have diagnostic irregular, jagged edges and cell walls are swollen at intervals.
