Table Of ContentJournal ofthe Bombay Natural HistorySociety, 104(3), Sep-Dec 2007 275-287
HEPATICS AND ANTHOCEROTES (BRYOPHYTA) OF TAMIAAND
PATALKOT VALLEY (DISTRICT CHHINDWARA MADHYA PRADESH
), 1
A.K.Asthana23andVirendraNath2’4
'AcceptedOctober2005
2BryologyLaboratory,NationalBotanicalResearchInstitute(CouncilofScientific&industrial Research),Lucknow226001,
UttarPradesh,India.
-'Email: [email protected]
JEmail: [email protected]
Observationsandenumerationofliverworts and homwortsofTamiahillsand Patalkotvalleyhavebeenmadeforthe
first time. Eighteen taxa belonging to orders Jungermanniales, Metzgeriales, Marchantiales and class Anthocerotae
have been reported to occur in this valley. Lophozia mayebarae (Hatt.) N. Kitag. is reported for the first time from
India, while Jungermannia tenerrima Steph. and Phaeoceros kashyapii Asthana et Sriv. are new additions to the
central Indian Bryoflora. However, a remarkable absence ofepiphytic liverworts in the entire region surveyed has
been noticed. Characteristic features with illustrations ofliverworts and hornworts have been provided.
Key words: Hepatics, Anthocerotes,Tamia, Patalkot, Madhya Pradesh
INTRODUCTION The steep valley is endowed with dense forest cover,
providingsuitableconditionsforthe growthofBryophytes,
Floristic studies on Bryophytes in general, and though onlythalloidliverworts andmosses are dominant.A
liverworts and homworts in particular, have received very river, locally known as Dudhi flows down the Valley near
,
littleattention,andthereisanurgentneedtoprepareregional Rajakhoh, ahideout ofaformerking.
floras ofBryophytes ofIndia. However, some contributions The region of Tamia hills and Patalkot valley is
have already been made by Pande and Srivastava (1952), neither too hot nor too cold (temperature ranges from
Bapna(1958), BapnaandVyas(1962),Hattori(1966, 1971), minimum 4 °C to 38 °C maximum) and remains pleasant
Kachroo (1969), Lai and Parihar (1979), Tewari and Pant throughout the year. There is not much variation in climate
(1994), Pariharetal. (1994), Bapnaand Kachroo(2000).As and altitude around Tamia region. The average annual
far as floristic studies on Hepaticae of central India is rainfall in this region is about 200 cm. The suitable
concerned,PandeandSrivastava(1952),andLai andParihar temperature, low light intensity, adequate soil moisture and
(1979) have provided a list of Hepatics of Pachmarhi and presence of perennial streams, collectively provide
Amarkantak respectively. Studies on Hepatics and favourableconditionsforthe luxuriantgrowthofliverworts.
Anthocerotes of Tamia hills and Patalkot valley have not SomeliverwortslikeDumortierahirsiita(Sw.)R.Bl.etNees,
received any attention; however, pteridophytic flora ofthis Pallavicinia lyellii (Hook.) Gray and Riccardia santapaui
regionwasearlierprovidedbyVasudevaandBir(1987),and Udar et Sriv. flourish under the dripping water on the side
Khare (1999). rocks of the deep ravines in Tamia. It is surprising to note
Tamia hills (ca 1,000 m) and Patalkot valley (ca 400 that despite all favourable conditions, epiphytic liverworts
m) are apartofthe Satpuraranges. They are situated about arecompletely missing intheseregions.This maybe dueto
100 km south-east ofPachmarhi. The topography ofTamia either unsuitable nature of forest vegetation (tree bark and
exhibits deep ravines (Khuds) between the red sand stone leaves), or lack ofspecific conditions for epiphytic growth
hillsmadeupofsedimentaryrocks,composedmainlyofred ofliverworts.
and yellow clay mixed with gravel. Frequent perennial
streams flow in the deep ravines. The Patalkot valley is MATERIAL AND METHODS
unique,givinganappearanceofapieceoflandthatabruptly
sanktoadepthof700m;it isborderedbysteepandstraight Plant specimens collected from Tamia and Patalkot
hills, likeawell.The valleyisisolatedwithonly 12villages (Dist. Chhindwara, Madhya Pradesh) have been
consisting of 265 families and about 1,614 individuals deposited in the Bryophyte Herbarium, National Botanical
of the Bharia tribe. The entire region is spread over Research Institute, Lucknow (LWG). Morphological and
ca 79 sq. km. anatomical studies were done by observing on Glycerine
BRYOPHYTES OFTAMIAAND PATALKOTVALLEY
mountedslides.Linedrawingillustrationshavebeenprepared a. Riccardia S. Gray
usingCameraLucida. 3. Riccardia santapaui Udar et Srivastava, Rev. Bryol.
Lichenol. 39(1): 155-159, 1973. (Fig. 2, 1-2).
DESCRIPTIONS Thallus dark green, in dense and compact patches,
mm mm
robust usually 35-50 long, 1-1.75 wide; closely
IJungermanniales Limpr. pinnatelybranched,branchesopposite,marginentire,apices
A. Jungermanniaceae Reichenb. slightlybroader. Rhizoidsscarcelypresent.Mainthallusaxis
a.Jungermannia L. is nearly biconvex in cross-section, 6-7 cells thick in the
1.Jungermannia (Luridae)tenerrima Steph., Spec. Hepat. middle, 2-3 cells wide and ultimately unistratose at the
6: 93, 1917. (Fig. 1, 1-5). margins,epidermalcellssmallerandmoreorlessrectangular
Plantsmedium tolarge,upto 10mm long; lightgreen. in shape.
Stemsimple,triangularinoutline,0.3 mm wide,0.25 mm in EcologyandDistribution:Growsluxuriantlyindense
diameter,7-8 cellsacross,corticalcellsslightlythick-walled. patcheson rocks underdripping wateratTamiavalley (near
Rhizoids colourless. Leaves obliquely inserted, slightly ChhotaMahadeo).
decurrent dorsally in a single row spreading horizontally, Specimens Examined: india: Madhya Pradesh,
ovate, 1 mm long and 1 mm wide, widest at base, obtuse at Chhindwara,Tamia,onwaytoChhotaMahadeo(ca950m),
apex; marginal cells 36-48 x 28 pm, median cells 10.x.1992, Leg. V. Nath & A.K. Asthana. 205498, 205509,
40-44 x 28-40pm, basal cells 64-80 x 24-28 pm, cells thin- 205510 (LWG). Det. V. Nath & A.K. Asthana; 19.xii.1993,
walled non-trigonous. Leg. V. Nath & A.K. Asthana. 205693, 205696, 205697,
EcologyandDistribution: Plantsgrowonsoil-covered 205699, 205700 (LWG). Det. V. Nath &A.K. Asthana.
rocksundermoistconditionsnearRajakhohatPatalkotvalley.
Specimen Examined: india: Madhya Pradesh, 4. Riccardia levieri Schiffn., Osterr. Bot. Zeitschr. 49: 130,
Chhindwara, Patalkot valley, Rajakhoh (ca 400 m), 1899. (Fig. 2, 3-4).
20.xii.1993. Leg. V. Nath & A.K. Asthana. 205725 (LWG). Thallususually green, upto 30mm longand 1.25 mm
Det. V. Nath & A.K. Asthana. wide, irregularly or pinnately branched, branches more or
lessopposite,marginentire,apicesbroadandobtuse.Rhizoids
B. LophoziaceaeCavers usually present. Main axis ofthe thallus convex below and
a. Lophozia (Dum.) Dum. nearlyconcave orplain above incross-section, about6cells
2.Lophoziamayebarae(Hatt.)N. Kitag.,J. Hattori Bot.Lab. thickinthemiddle,thalluswingmultistratose,becomingthin
29: 106, 1966. (Fig. 1,6-12). towards margin, edges rounded or slightly acute, epidermal
Basionym: CephaloziamayebaraeHatt.,J.HattoriBot. cells smallerthan the innercells.
Lab. 3: 37, 1948. EcologyandDistribution:Growsunderextremelywet
Plantsverysmall,lightbrown,inloosetufts. Stemupto conditions on rocks underwaterstream atTamia(on way to
mm mm
5 long, 0.6 to 0.8 wide. Stem, 5-6 cells across in ChhotaMahadeo).
transverse section, formed of undifferentiated cells. Leaves Specimen Examined: india: Madhya Pradesh,
distantly arranged, transverse to obliquely inserted, non- Chhindwara, Tamia, on way to Chhota Mahadeo (ca 1000
decurrent, quadrate to oblong-ovate 0.18-0.3 mm wide and m), 10.x.1992,Leg.V.Nath&A.K.Asthana.205510(LWG).
upto0.3 mmlong,bilobed, sinus 1/6-1/3 theleaflength, lobes Det. V. Nath & A.K. Asthana.
more orlessunequal, sub-acuteobtuse. Underleaveslacking,
apicalcells 15x 12pm,marginalcells 16-20x8-12pm,median B. Fossombroniaceae Evans
cells 28-32 x 12-24 pm, basal cells 40-48 x 20 pm cells thin- a. Fossombronia Raddi
wallednon-trigonous,hyalineorbrown. Perianth notseen. 5.Fossombroniawondraczekii(Corda)Dum.Rec.d’observ.
EcologyandDistribution: Plantsgrowoverdeadlogs P. 11, 1835. (Fig. 2, 5-10).
in shady habitat atTamia. Basionym: Jungermannia wondraczekii Corda in
Specimen Examined: india: Madhya Pradesh, Sturm, Deutschl. FI. Fasc. 2, Lfg. 19-20, 30, 1830.
Chhindwara,Tamia(ca 1000m), 10.x.1992. Leg. V. Nath & Plantsgreenoryellowishgreen. Stem6mm longwith
A.K.Asthana. 205497(LWG). Det.V. Nath&A.K.Asthana. a tendency of dichotomous branching, slightly thickened
towards apex, rhizoids hyaline to light yellow, densely
II Metzgeriales Schust. em. Schljak. distributed overventral surface. Leaves succubous, densely
A.Aneuraceae Klinggr. arrangedtowardstheapex,marginundulate,cellsthin-walled.
276 J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 104 (3), Sep-Dec 2007
BRYOPHYTES OFTAMIAAND PATALKOTVALLEY
_ 0.5mm
1 mm
7-12 0-1
mm
0.5
mm
0.1
mm
Q<2
mm
0.1
mm
0.1
Fig. 1: 1-5: Jungermannia tenerrimaSteph: 1.Aportion of plant, 2. Cross section ofstem,
3. Marginal cells of Leaf, 4. Median cells of Leaf, 5. Basal cellsof Leaf;
6-12: Lophozia mayebarae(Hatt.) N. kitag: 6. Dorsal viewofplant,
7. Cross section ofstem, 8-10. Leaves, 11. Apical cells Leaf, 12. Basal cellsof Leaf
J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 104 (3), Sep-Dec 2007 277
BRYOPHYTES OF TAMIAAND PATALKOTVALLEY
marginalcells 20-24 x 34-68 pm, median cells 34-42.5 x 85 a. Pallavacinia S. Gray
pmandbasalcells42x 153(am. Monoecious.Antheridianot 7. Pallavacinia lyellii (Hook.) Gray. J. Bot. Brit. Foreign 3:
seen. Pseudoperianth campanulate or inverted bell-shaped 302, 1865. (Fig. 3, 1-6).
with wavy margin. Seta elongated. Capsule spherical, Basionym: JungermannialyelliiHook., Brit. Jung. PI.
blackish-brown and exserted, dehiscence irregular, capsule 77, 1816.
mm mm
wall bistratose, cells ofouter layer thin-walled without any Thallusprostrate,70 long,5 wide,lightgreen,
thickening,cellsofinnerlayerinsurfaceviewwithincomplete dichotomously branched at apex, margin entire. Rhizoids
thickening bands. Spores tetrahedral to spherical, 58 pm in scarcely present. Thallus usually 11 cells high in the middle
diameter, dark brown distal face with prominent, parallel andhasaprominent midrib, which graduallypassesonboth
mm
runninglamellae, whichsometimesform 1 or2reticulations sides intoabroadlamina, midrib moreorless0.5 broad
in the middle, perispore prominent and well-developed at withcentralconductingstrandcomposedofthick-walledcells,
periphery, spines bold and pointed, proximal face devoid of cellsusually30innumber.Cup-shapedinvolucrehavingthick
lamellae, but with scattered papillae, triradiate mark faintly fringe ofhairs at mouth. Perianth and sporophyte not seen.
developed. Elaters 160pmlong,20pmbroad,2(3-4)spirate, Ecology and Distribution: Grows on soil-covered
yellowish brown with obtuse end. rocks underextremely moistconditions atTamia, on way to
EcologyandDistribution:Growsonsoil-coveredrock Chhota Mahadeo.
near Rajakhoh in Patalkot valley. Specimens Examined: india: Madhya Pradesh,
Specimen Examined: India: Madhya Pradesh, Chhindwara, Tamia, Chhota Mahadeo {ca 954-1000 m),
Chhindwara, Patalkot, near Rajakhoh (ca 400 m), 6.x.1992. 10.x.1992. Leg. V. Nath & A.K. Asthana. 205501, 205502,
Leg. V. Nath & A.K. Asthana. 205474 (LWG). Det. V. Nath 205504, 205505, 205506, 205510, 205511 (LWG);
& A.K.Asthana. 19.xii.1993, Leg. V. Nath &A.K. Asthana. 205682, 205702,
205703, 205704 (LWG). Det. V. Nath &A.K. Asthana.
6.FossombroniakashyapiiSrivast.etUdar,NovaHedwigia
26: 816(1975). (Fig. 2, 11-16). III. Marchantiales Limpr.
mm
Plants small, green or dull-green. Stem 7-8 long, A. Targioniaceae Endl.
dichotomouslybranched,apicalregionoftentuberous,ventral a. Targionia L.
surface covered with hyaline rhizoids. Leaves simple, 8. Targioniahypophylla L. Spec. Plant. 1604, 1753. (Fig. 3,
succubous, quadrate or sub-quadrate, obliquely inserted, 12-16).
mm
arrangedintwolateralrows,marginsundulate,marginalcells Plants yellowish green, thallus upto 10 long, 3 or
mm
28 (-62.4) x 24 pm, median cells 60 (-163) x 28-43 pm. rarely4 broad, ventral surface purplish; scalespurplish,
Dioecious.Antheridianotseen.Pseudoperianthcampanulate, delicate with or without appendage, pores nearly rounded.
margin irregularly lobed. Capsule spherical, dark brown, Dioecious, male plants not seen in our collection. Female
dehiscence irregular, capsule wall bistratose, cells of outer thalli with dark, boat-shaped involucre around sporophyte
layer thin-walled, without any thickening, inner layer cells near the apex on ventral surface. Spores dark brown-black,
insurfaceviewwithcompleteorincompletethickeningbands. 60-68pmindiameter,sporodermminutelyreticulate,forming
Spores 52 pm in diameter, dark brown with thick lamellae, afinemeshallover,distalfacewithsomelargerreticulations,
oftenformingreticulationsinthemiddleregionondistalface, usually4-5 acrossthediameter,proximalfacewithirregular
usually 5 reticulations across the diameter with a range of foldsorlamellae. Elatersusually 170-306pmlongwith2or
1-8 lamellae continuous usually forked at periphery, spines rarely4 spiral thickeningbands.
and perispore well-developed, proximal face devoid of Ecology and Distribution: Plants grew over soil-
lamellae, with some short and scattered low lamellae and covered rocks under exposed conditions at Patalkot valley,
faintly developed triradiate mark. Elater 160-258 pm long, nearRajakhoh and atTamianearChhotaMahadeo.
usually trispirate. Specimens Examined: india: Madhya Pradesh,
EcologyandDistribution:Growsonrocksundermoist Chhindwara, Patalkot {ca 400 m), 6.x.1992. Leg. V. Nath &
andexposedconditions atTamia. A.K.Asthana. 205472(LWG)Det. V. Nath&A.K.Asthana;
Specimen Examined: india: Madhya Pradesh, Tamia{ca 952 m), 11.x.1992. Leg. V. Nath &A.K. Asthana.
Chhindwara,Tamia(ca 1,000m), 10.x.1992,Leg.V. Nath& 205526 (LWG). Det.V. Nath &A.K.Asthana.
A.K.Asthana. 205487(LWG). Det.V. Nath&A.K.Asthana.
b. Cyathodium Kunze
C. Pallaviciniaceae Migulaem. Schust. 9.Cyathodiumcavernarum KunzeinLehm.,Pugillus6: 17,
278 J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 104 (3), Sep-Dec 2007
BRYOPHYTESOFTAMIA AND PATALKOTVALLEY
Fig. 2: 1,2. Riccardia santapauiUdaretSriv.: 1. Plant, 2. Cross section ofthallus; 3, 4. Riccardia leviedSchiff.:
3. Plant, 4. Cross section ofthallus; 5-10: Fossombronia wondraczekii(Corda) Dum.: 5. Plant, 6.Apical marginal cellsofthallus,
7. Innerlining layerofcapsule, 8. Spore (distal face), 9. Spore (proximal face), 10. Elaterwith bispiral thickening bands.
11-16: Fossombronia kashyapilSriv. efUdar.: 11. Plant, 12.Apical marginal cellsofthallus, 13. Innerlining layerofcapsule,
14. Spore (proximal face), 15. Spore (distal face), 16. Elaterwith trispiral thickening bands.
J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 104 (3), Sep-Dec 2007 279
1
BRYOPHYTES OFTAMIAAND PATALKOTVALLEY
1834. (Fig. 3, 7-11). Thallusthickforminglargepatches,greentodarkgreen
mm mm
Thalli yellowish green, small, delicate, 3-5 or rarely up to 32 long and 6 wide, dichotomously divided;
mm mm
8 long,2-3orrarely4 wide,dichotomouslybranched lobes obcordate, dorsal surface smooth with distinct pores,
at apex, repeated dichotomy results in a fan-shaped thallus, concave,marginsundulate,slightlycrenulate;ventralsurface
cavernous in nature, midrib not present. Monoecious. with purpletinge, scales in 1 row oneach sideofthe midrib,
Antheridianotseen. Involucrepresentnearthemargininthe purple, widely lunate in shape with a large appendage,
apicalregionofthallus,globose,non-hairy,cleavedintotwo constricted at base, obtuse, sometimes ovate with slightly
lips,rimofinvolucreborderedwith2-3 rowsofthick-walled acute apex, midrib gradually passing into the lamina and
cells. Capsule ovoid, dark brown. Spores blackish brown, inconspicuous towards base. Male receptacles not seen.
.
52-56 pm in diameter, sporoderm spinose-baculate. Elaters Female receptacles with very short stalks up to 4 lobed (in
up to 561 pm long with bispiral thickening bands. our specimens). Spores yellow, sporoderm lamellate -
EcologyandDistribution:Plantsgrowonsoilandsoil- reticulate 68-80 pm in diameter. Elaters yellowish-brown,
coveredrocksindamppocketsatTamianearChhotaMahadeo. 340-390 pm long with bispiral thickening bands.
Specimens Examined: india: Madhya Pradesh, EcologyandDistribution:Plantsgrowonsoil-covered
Chhindwara, Patalkot, near Rajakhoh (ca 953 m), 6.x.1992. rocks atTamia, on way toChotaMahadeo and at Patalkot.
Leg.V.Nath&A.K.Asthana205469(LWG);Tamia,Chhota Specimens Examined: india: Madhya Pradesh,
Mahadeo, 11.x.1992. Leg. V. Nath &A.K.Asthana. 205518, Chhindwara,Tamia,ChotaMahadeo(ca950m), 19.xii.1993.
205527 (LWG). Det. V. Nath &A.K. Asthana. Leg. V. Nath & A.K. Asthana 205684, 205716, 205717
(LWG); Rajakhoh, Patalkot valley, Rajakhoh (ca 400 m),
B.AytoniaceaeCavers 20.xii.1993. Leg. V. Nath. &A.K. Asthana. 205731 (LWG).
a.Asterella Beauv. Det. V. Nath & A.K.Asthana.
10 Asterellawallichiana(Lehm.etLindb.)Grolle.J.Hattori
Bot. Lab. 11:8, 1954. 12. Plagiochasma intermedium Lindbg. etGott., Syn. Hep.
(Lig. 4, 1-4) 513, 1844. (Fig. 4, 5-11)
Basionym: Fimbriaria wallichianainLehm.,Pugillus Thalli forming patches, green to dark green, 13-20 or
mm mm
4: 4, 1832. rarely 25 long and 3-5 wide, sometimes slightly
mm mm
Plants green, thallus up to 30 long, 3 broad, dichotomous; lobesstrap-shapedwithpurpleandthinmargin,
linear, dichotomously branched, dorsal surface nearly flat, nearly entire or dentate, dorsal surface green with distinct
margin wavy usually purple, apex notched; pores large, pores.Ventralsurfacewithpurpletinge,scalespurple,lunate
surrounded by 3 rings of 6 cells each; scales purplish, appendaged, usually with 2 small appendages, oblong,
triangularwithanacuminateappendage,sometimesunequally constricted at base, entire with nearly acute apex. Midrib
divided. Dioecious. Male plants notseen. Lemale receptacle gradually passing into wings. Male receptacles not seen.
mm
terminal at apex, with 2-5 lobes, stalked, stalk 2 long, Femalereceptacle with avery short stalk, dorsal in position,
perianthnearlyhorizontal,membranous,beak-like,exserted. with 1-4 involucres. Spores brown-dark brown, lamellate,
Sporesdarkbrown, 63 pm in diameter, sporodermpapillose sometimes reticulate with a prominent wing, 60 pm in
with a predominantly lamellate pattern, sometimes with a diameter. Elaters yellowish, uniformly thickened without
tendencytoformreticulations. Elatersyellowtolightbrown spiral bands, up to 390 pm long.
with 1-2 spiral thickening bands, up to 150 pm long. EcologyandDistribution:Plantsgrowonsoil-covered
EcologyandDistribution: Plantsgrowoverrocksand rocks at Patalkot and at Tamia in shady as well exposed
soil-coveredrocksinexposedaswellasshadyplacesatTamia, conditions.
on way toChotaMahadeo. Specimens Examined: india: Madhya Pradesh,
Specimens Examined: india: Madhya Pradesh, Chhindwara, Patalkot valley, near Rajakhoh (ca 400 m),
Chhindwara,Tamia,ChotaMahadeo(ca 1,000m), 10.x.1992. 6.x.1992. Leg. V. Nath & A.K. Asthana. 205470 (LWG);
Leg. V. Nath & A.K. Asthana. 205489, 205519 (LWG); 20.xii.1993. Leg. V. Nath & A.K. Asthana. 205728 (LWG);
19.xii.1993. Leg. V. Nath & A.K. Asthana. 205680, 205681 Tamia, ChotaMahadeo (ca 950m), 11.x.1992. Leg. V. Nath
(LWG). Det. V. Nath &A.K. Asthana. & A.K. Asthana. 205516, 205525 (LWG). Det. V. Nath &
A.K.Asthana.
b. Plagiochasma Lehm. etLindb.
PlagiochasmaappendiculatumLehm.etLindb. Pugillus C. Marchantiaeeae (Bisch.) Endl.
1 .
4: 14, 1832. (Fig. 4, 12-15) a.Dumortiera Nees.
280 J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 104 (3), Sep-Dec 2007
BRYOPHYTES OF TAMIAAND PATALKOTVALLEY
2-4 6
,
Fig. 3: 1-6: Pallavicinia lyellii(Hook.) Gray.: 1. Thalluswith involucre, 2. Marginal cellsofthallus, 3. Median cellsofthallus,
4. Basal cellsofthallus, 5. Cross section ofthallus, 6.An enlarged portion ofthe same,
7-11\CyathodiumcavernarumKunze: 7,8. Thalli, 9,10. Spores, 11 Elaterwith spiral thickening bands;
.
12-16: Targionia hypophylla L.: 12,13.Thalli with ventral involucre, 14. Spore (distal face), 15. Spore (proximalface),
16. Elaterwith bispiral thickening bands
1 Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 104 (3), Sep-Dec 2007 281
BRYOPHYTES OFTAMIAAND PATALKOTVALLEY
13.Dumortierahirsuta (Sw.)R.Bl.etNees.Nov.Act.Leop. Natn. Sci. Acad. B51 (4): 484, 1985. (Fig. 6, 1-4).
Carol. 7: 410, 1824. (Fig. 5, 1-4) Thalli fan-shaped to radially oriented, dark green,
Basionym: Marchantia hirsuta Sw., Prodr. FI. Ind. margindissected,radiallyorientedthalliupto9mm(10mm)
Occid. 145, 1788. wide, spongy in nature with prominent mucilage chambers
Plantsdarkgreen. Thalli in largeoverlappingpatches. clearly seen along the margin ofthe thalli. Involucre upto 3
Thallus 40-50 mm (100 mm) long and 6-10 mm wide, mm long with a narrow mouth. Epidermal layer ofcapsule
repeatedly dichotomously branched, apex deeply cleaved, wall with 6-11 stomata / sq. mm, each stoma up to 65 pm
margin entire, undulate, translucent, midrib conspicuous. long and up to 50 pm wide with reniform guard cells,
Dorsal surface with some papillate cells. Midrib prominent surrounded by 6-7 more longer than broad epidermal cells
below, about 11 ormore cells thick in the middle, gradually with uniformlythickenedradialwalls. Sporesbrownordark
passing into the lamina formed of large cells. Dioecious, brown,35-44pm(55pm)indiameterwithspinulatetorather
young female receptacles at apical articulation, sessile with blunt projections forming reticuloid pattern, proximal face
bristles.Maturefemalereceptacleswithsporophytenotseen. marked with distinct triradiate mark ending shortly before
Ecologyand Distribution: Plantsgrow luxuriantlyin the periphery, bordered with unsculptured stripe on both the
largepatchesonrocksunderdrippingwateratTamia,onway sidesofray, slightlyarched. Pseudoelaterslightbrown,thin-
to ChotaMahadeo. walled, 120 pm long, usually 4 celled, sometimesbranched.
Specimens Examined: india: Madhya Pradesh, EcologyandDistribution: Plantsgrow luxuriantlyon
Chhindwara, Tamia, on way to Chota Mahadeo (ca 1,000 soil-covered rocks underfairly moistconditions atTamia.
nr), 10.x.1992.Leg.V.Nath&A.K.Asthana.205507,205508, Specimen Examined: india: Madhya Pradesh,
205511, 205514, 205515 (LWG); 19.xii.1993. Leg. V. Nath Chhindwara,Tamia{ca 1000m), 10.x.1992. Leg. V. Nath &
& A.K. Asthana. 205701. 205714, 205715 (LWG). Det. V. A.K.Asthana,205488(LWG). Det.A.K.Asthana&V. Nath.
Nath &A.K.Asthana.
B. Phaeocerotaceae Bharad.
b. Marchantia L. a. Phaeoceros Prosk.
14. Marchantia linearis Lehm. et Lindb. in Lehman, Nov. 16. Phaeoceros laevis (Linn.) Prosk. subsp. laevis Prosk.
Stirp. Pug. 4: 8, 1832; Sp. Hep. 1: 187, 1900. (Fig. 5, 5-10) Rapp, etComm. 8. Congr. Intern. Bot. Paris 14-16: 69, 1954
Thallusthin, goldengreenin mediumtolargepatches, (Fig. 6, 5-8)
mm mm
15-25 long, 2-3 wide, dichotomously branched, Basionym: Anthoceros laevis Linn. Spec. Plant. 2:
midrib narrow, black, margin entire, undulate. Pores scarce, 1139, 1753.
small,upto85 pmindiameter,borderedby5-6ringsofcells. Plantsdioecious.Femalethallifan-shaped,lightordark
mm mm
Thallus 14-20 cells thick in the middle, gradually or green, branched, up to 11 long, 8-10 wide at apex,
sometimesabruptlydecreasingtowardsmargins, sometimes deeply lobed, margin entire-wavy, compact. Involucre cup-
one mucilagecavitypresent. Ventral surface brown, scale in shaped cylindrical, 2 mm (-5 mm) long with wide mouth,
4 rows, two median rows with appendiculate scales having compact, smooth, epidermal layer of capsule wall
long decurrent base, appendages small hyaline or yellow, stomatiferous with 6-7 stomata/ sq. mm, each stoma 50-75
nearlycordateatbase,apexacutewith 1-2apicalcells,margin pm long and 40 pm wide with two reniform guard cells,
toothed usually with unicellular sharp teeth; laminal scales surroundedby5-6morelongerthanbroadnarrowrectangular
hyalineorpurplish,orbicular,apexobtuseorrounded.Gemma cellshavinguniformlythickenedradialandendwalls.Spores
cup at median region nearapex, margin smooth. yellowishgreen,sphericalorsubspherical,45pmindiameter,
Ecology and Distribution: Plants grow on moist soil sporoderm minutely papillate with a prominent equatorial
undershady conditions nearChotaMahadeo atTamia. crossitudo, proximalface withadistinctthin triradiate mark
Specimen Examined: india: Madhya Pradesh, bordered by minute papillae along the rays, triradiate rays
Chhindwara,Tamia,ChotaMahadeo{ca950m), 19.xii.1993. reaching toequatorial crossitudo. Pseudoelaters lightbrown
Leg. V. Nath & A.K. Asthana. 205711, 205712, 205713 to brown, 4celled, 168 pm long, thin-walled.
(LWG) Det. V. Nath & A.K. Asthana. Ecologyand Distribution: Plants grow onrocksnear
streams at ChotaMahadeo, Tamia.
IV.Anthocerotae Endl. Specimen Examined: india: Madhya Pradesh,
A. Anthocerotaceae (Gray)Trev. em. Bharad. Chhindwara,Tamia,ChotaMahadeo{ca950m), 19.xii.1993.
a.Anthoceros (Micheli) L. em. Prosk. Leg. V. Nath & A.K. Asthana. 205687 (LWG). Det. A.K.
15. Anthoceros bharadwajii Udar etAsthana, Proc. Indian Asthana & V. Nath.
282 J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 104 (3), Sep-Dec 2007
BRYOPHYTES OFTAMIAAND PATALKOTVALLEY
Fig. 4: 1-4: Asterella wallichiana(Lehm. etLindb.) Grolle, 1. Thalluswith female receptacle, 2,3. Spores,
4. Elaterwith bispiralthickening bands; 5-11. Plagiochasma intermediumLdbg. etGott. 5.Thalluswith female receptacle,
6. Ventral scale, 7,8.An enlarged viewofthe same, 9. Spore (distal face), 10. Spore (proximalface),
11. Elaterwithoutthickening bands; 12-15: PlagiochasmaappendiculatumL. etL. 12.Thalluswith female receptacle,
13. Ventral scale, 14. Spore, 15. Elaterwith bispiral thickening bands
1 Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 104 (3), Sep-Dec 2007 283
BRYOPHYTES OFTAMIAAND PATALKOTVALLEY
17. Phaeoceros laevis (Linn.) Prosk. subsp. carolinianus DISCUSSION
(Michx.)Prosk.,Rapp,efComm. 8. Congr. Intern. Bot.,Paris
14-16: 69, 1954. (Fig. 6,9-11) The investigation on the altitudinal distribution of
Basionym: Anthoceros carolinianus Michx., FI. Bor. liverwort and homwort taxa growing atTamia and Patalkot
America2: 280, 1803. revealed that Riccardia levieri Fossombronia kashyapii,
,
Plants monoceious. Thalli fan-shaped light or dark Lophozia mayebarae Dumortiera hirsuta and Anthoceros
,
mm mm
green, deeply lobed, usually 12 long and 10 wide bharadwajii occur at higher altitude (ca 1,000 m), while
withfanningapexandnarrowingbase,compact.Androecial Riccardia santapaui Cyathodium cavernarum, Marchantia
,
chambersscatteredirregularoverthedorsalsurface.Involucre linearis, Phaeoceros laevis subsp. laevis and subsp.
mm
cylindrical,2-4 long,smooth,compact,narrowatmouth. carolinianus occur at ca 950 m. Pallavicinia lyellii grows
Epidermal layer of capsule wall stomatiferous with 3-10 between954-1,000m.Apartfromthis,thelowaltitudeloving
stomata/sq. mm,upto80pmlongand40pmwide,withtwo taxalikeJungermannia (Luridae) tenerrima, Fossombronia
reniform guard cells surrounded by usually 6 more longer wondraczekii, Targionia hypophylla and Phaeoceros
than broad epidermal cells, cells with thickened radial and kashyapii grow at ca 400 m. The most adaptive taxa are
end walls. Spores yellowish green, 35 pm in diameter, Plagiochasma appendiculatum and P intermedium, which
sporoderm minutely papillate with a prominent equatorial grow at a range of400-950m.
crossitudo, proximal face with a distinct triradiate mark, Lophozia mayebarae (Hatt.) N. Kitag. was earlier
triradiateraysthinandborderedwithminutepapillaeallalong describedfromJapanbyKitagawa(1966)andwasconsidered
itslength,reachinguptoequatorialcrossitudo. Pseudoelaters endemic;thepresentstudy,however,revealedtheoccurrence
yellowish brown, thin-walled, up to 150 pm long with ofthis taxon atTamia(Chhindwaradistrict), whichis anew
irregularthickening bands. recordforIndia,henceextendingtherangeofdistributionof
Ecology and Distribution: Plants grow over soil- thisspeciesfromJapantoIndia.Indianspecimensoftheabove
covered rocks under moist conditions near Chota taxon closely resemble Japanese plants in plant size, stem
Mahadeo. anatomy, leaf size and non-trigonous cells; but some
Specimen Examined: india: Madhya Pradesh, variations, in apical leafcells (30-40 pm), middle andbasal
Chhindwara,Tamia,ChotaMahadeo(ca950m), 19.xii.1993. cells (28-33 x40-60pm)havebeenobserved, whichmaybe
Leg. V. Nath & A.K. Asthana 205708 (LWG). Det. A.K. duetodifferentclimaticconditionsofthetwogeographically
Asthana& V. Nath. differentlocations.
Phaeoceros kashyapii Asthana et Sriv. was first
18. Phaeoceros kashyapii Asthana et Sriv. Bryophyt. described (Asthana and Srivastava 1991) from Deoban
Biblioth. Band 42: 129, 1991. (Fig. 6, 12-18) (Western Himalaya) atca 3,300m,butrecent investigation
Plants monoecious. Thalli light green, lobed up to 6 showed the occurrence of this taxon at remarkably low
mm long and 2-4 mm wide, fanning above and narrow at altitude - ca 400 m - at Patalkot valley (Chhindwara
mm
base, compact. Involucre cylindrical, smooth, up to 3 district), which is a new addition to the central Indian
long,compact.Epidermallayerofcapsulewallstomatiferous, bryoflora, and it shows the adaptability ofthis species to
each stoma with 2 reniform guard cells, surrounded by 5-6 grow widely in variousbryogeographical regions ofIndia.
more longer than broad epidermal cells having thickened A morphological variation in the specimens of Patalkot,
radial andend walls. Sporesyellowishgreen, 37.5-40pmin as compared to the plants ofDeoban, is that the thallus is
diameter, sporoderm with lamellate projections and a smallerinsize,inadditiontovariationindiameterofspore
prominent equatorial crossitudo, proximal face with a andelater’s length. Jungermannia (Luridae) tenerrima is
prominentandthintriradiatemarkreachingtotheinnerborder also a new addition to the central Indian bryoflora, as
ofequatorial crossitudo. Pseudoelaters pale to light brown, earlier it was known from western and eastern Himalaya
thin-walled, smooth, 72-100 pm long. only.
EcologyandDistribution: Plantswerecollectedfrom ThepresentstudyrevealedthatTargioniahypophylla,
soil-coveredrocksundermoistconditionsonwaytoRajakhoh Cyathodium cavernarum, Plagiochasma intermedium
atPatalkot valley. and Plagiochasma appendiculatum are common at both
Specimen Examined: india: Madhya Pradesh, Tamia and Patalkot valley. This growth pattern exhibitsthe
Chhindwara, Patalkot, on way to Rajakhoh (ca 400 m), adaptabilityofthesetaxatogrowatlower,aswellasathigher
6.x.1992. Leg. V. Nath and A.K. Asthana. 205475 (LWG). altitudesandinshadyorexposedconditionsascomparedto
Det.A.K. Asthana & V. Nath. othertaxa. Riccardia santapaui (Aneuraceae), Pallavicinia
284 J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 104 (3), Sep-Dec 2007
