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Symphysodontella madhusoodananii Manju & Rajesh, sp. nov. an epiphytic pendant moss, with flagellate branches and long acuminate leaves with two short costa is described and illustrated from the tropical wet evergreen forests of the Western Ghats of India.
Symphysodontella madhusoodananii, Pterobryaceae, Moss, Western Ghats, New Amarambalam, Kerala, India
Symphysodontella Fleischer is a genus of nine species known so far from India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Borneo and the Philippines.
Four taxa, viz., Symphysodontella borii Dixon, Symphysodontella pilifolia Dixon, Symphysodontella subulata Broth. and Symphysodontella tortifolia Dixon were reported from the North-eastern India (
During our recent exploration in the Shola forests (Southern montane wet temperate forests) of New Amarambalam Reserve Forest in the Malappuram District of Kerala, we collected an interesting species of Symphysodontella, which showed distinguishing characteristics from the other known species. We here describe this entity as a new species and provide a table of comparison with the other known species to India as well as a key.
Symphysodontella madhusoodananii is characterised by very short, double costate, oblong-lanceolate, long acuminate leaves. It shows some similarities to Symphysodontella tortifolia Dixon in its long acuminate, complanate plicate leaves and some leaves being tortuose at tip. However, it differs in its oblong-lanceolate leaves, two distinct short costa in both main and secondary branch leaves and the leaves on main shoot and secondary branches being similar. It also differs having long drooping primary branches, short secondary branches and presence of copious flagelliform branches. Symphysodontella madhusoodananii also shows some similarity with Symphysodontella subulata Broth. in its two short-costate, ovate-lanceolate leaves, elongate-linear porose cells and yellowish brown stem attachment cells. However, it differs in cells being highly porose in its lateral wall and in the middle layer, the pores being rounded.
INDIA. Kerala, Malappuram district, Nilambur, New Amarambalam Reserve Forest (bordering Mukurti National Park of Tamil Nadu), epiphytic on trees of shola forest, 1200 m alt., K.P.Rajesh 106933 (Holotype: CALI! Isotypes: BM!, CAL!, CALI!, MBGS!, ZGC!).
Main stem long, creeping on bark, 3–5 cm long, scale leaves present, branches yellowish green to brownish, primary branch 5–7 cm long, secondary branches up to 2 cm long, mostly with flagelliform branches, flagella 2.5 cm long, erect to drooping, leaves oblong-lanceolate, lax erect-spreading, 2.5 × 0.9 mm, leaves on main shoot lax, ovate, long acuminate, acumen 0.9 mm long, two very short distinct costa at base, leaves on main shoot and secondary branches dense, patent to squarrose, complanate, plicate, tip tortuose in some leaves, long apiculate, margin denticulate at tip, recurved below, cells at acumen elongate linear, up to 50 µm long, thick walled above, middle cells 60–70 µm × 20–25 µm, less thick but with porose walls below, 35–45 µm × 28–35 µm, costa and cells at stem attachment yellowish brown, alar cells not prominently differentiated in size but with deep brown, rectangular porose cells, 40–45 × 25–35 µm, porose in some cells, leaf insertion to the stem is U shaped; cells at flagella almost same size and shape; sporophyte not seen (Figure 1 a–s).
Symphysodontella madhusoodananii, a–b habit c–e leaf at main stem f leaf at flagella g–h leaf tip i basal marginal cells j–k leaf margin at tip l–m leaf insertion cells n leaf middle cells o basal cells enlarged p leaf tip cells q leaf middle cells r–s leaf basal cells.
It is distributed in the shola forests (Southern montane wet temperate forests) of New Amarambalam of Kerala and Mukuruty National Park of Tamil Nadu in the Western Ghats of India.
It was found growing as epiphytic on branches of trees of shola forest.
It is named in honour of Professor (Dr.) P.V. Madhusoodanan, for his meritorious contribution towards botany, especially on lower groups of plants of Southern India. He retired recently from the Department of Botany of University of Calicut, and now continues his research as an Emeritus Scientist in the Malabar Botanical Garden (MBG), Kozhikode. It is he who inspired the present authors to undertake studies on the bryophytes and pteridophytes.
Symphysodontella madhusoodananii is similar to Symphysodontella tortifolia in its long acuminate, complanate plicate leaves and some leaves being tortuose at tip. It differs from Symphysodontella tortifolia in its oblong-lanceolate leaves, two distinct, short costa in both main and secondary branch leaves and the leaves on main shoot and secondary branches being similar. In Symphysodontella tortifolia the costa in the secondary branch leaf is single, reaching a little more than half the length. The secondary branches are dendroid by bi-pinnate branching with branching in different planes in Symphysodontella tortifolia, and lacks flagelliform branches. However, in Symphysodontella madhusoodananii the primary branches are long drooping, secondary branches short and flagelliform branches are frequent.
Symphysodontella madhusoodananii also shows some similarity with Symphysodontella subulata Broth. in its two short costa and ovate-lanceolate leaves. However, in Symphysodontella madhusoodananii the cells are highly porose in its lateral wall and in the middle layer the pores are rounded. It is also having hanging secondary branches and copiously flagellate. The costa and cells at stem attachment is yellowish brown, alar cells not prominently differentiated but with deep brown, rectangular porose cells and the leaf insertion is U-shaped.
Comparison of the morphological features of Symphysodontella species in India.
| Characters | Symphysodontella madhusoodananii | Symphysodontella subulata | Symphysodontella tortifolia | Symphysodontella involuta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Branching | ||||
| Primary branches | long drooping | elongate | short | short |
| Secondary branches | short | hanging | dendroid | long, drooping |
| Flagelliform branches | frequent | frequent | absent | absent |
| Leaves | ||||
| Shape | Oblong lanceolate, long acuminate, complanate plicate | Ovate-lanceolate, acumen short | Ovate, long acuminate, complanate plicate | Lanceolate, not plicate |
| Apices | some leaves tortuose at tip | leaf tip not tortuose | some leaves tortuose at tip | Tip involutus; not tortuose at tip |
| Costa | Two short, distinct in both main and secondary branches | Very short two costa, not distinct | Single, reaching a little more than half the length in the secondary branch leaves | Single, reaching the middle of leaf, distinct in main and secondary branches |
| Cells | ||||
| Shape | elongate linear | elongate linear | elongate | elongate |
| wall | highly porose in its lateral wall and in the middle layer, pores rounded | thick walled, porose, rounded | slightly thick walled above, weekly porose above and less thick but porose walls below | Thin walled above and middle, thick porose |
| alar cells | not prominently differentiated in size but with brown cells, rectangular porose cells | differentiated with deep brown, rectangular porose cells | Tinted, less thick cells, rectangular | thick porose walls, tinted, rectangular |
Conservation status. The species was found growing on the trees of shola forests (Southern montane wet temperate forests) of New Amarambalam of Kerala, and the adjoining areas of Mukuruty National Park of Tamil Nadu. Located in the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, the New Amarambalam Reserved Forests with an area of more than 260 km2, is one of the most notable areas in the Western Ghats of Northern Kerala for its unique assemblage of floristic elements. The rare blending of many interesting floral elements makes this area as one among the most potential area to be considered for long term conservation. The unique geographic location and the rugged terrain with folds of hills and deep valleys, as a natural westward extension of the Nilgiri hills make this landscape dotted with all major vegetation types of Southern India in a short span itself. The proposed plan for designating the New Amarambalam forests of Kerala as a Wildlife Sanctuary has not been materialised yet. The area with its unique geographical location, which changes along a sharp altitudinal gradient and thus offering a good array of natural habitats, forming the rare blend of species assemblages, is no doubt, an ideal landscape to be conserved. This also ensures the long term protection of many species and their populations, in a unique landscape with the continuum of the Nilgiri hills to the Silent Valley and adjacent areas. At present the species is known only from a small area, and with the majority lies in the non-protected part. Its conservation status could be improved by bringing these areas of Kerala state under protection.
Specimens examined: INDIA. Kerala, Malappuram district, Nilambur, New Amarambalam forest (bordering the Mukurti National Park of Tamil Nadu), epiphytic on trees of shola forest, 1200 m alt., K.P. Rajesh 106933 (BM!, CAL!, CALI!, MBGS!, ZGC!); New Amarambalam Reserve Forest, 1200 m alt., K.P. Rajesh 111862 (CALI!, MBGS!, ZGC!); INDIA. Tamil Nadu, Pandiyar Estate (near Mukurthi National Park), 1300 m alt., on branches of trees of shola forest, K.P. Rajesh 111852 (CALI!, MBGS!, ZGC!), Mukurthi National Park, 1400 malt., on branches of trees of shola forest, K.P. Rajesh 109001 (CALI!, MBGS!, ZGC!).
| 1a | Leaves complanate plicate, acumen long, 1 mm | 2 |
| 1b | Leaves not plicate, acumen very short, 02-0.6 mm | 3 |
| 2a | Costa in the primary and secondary branch leaves single, reaching a little more than half the length; flagelliform branches absent | Symphysodontella tortifolia |
| 2b | Costa in the primary and secondary branch leaves double, short, restricted to alar region; flagelliform branches frequent | Symphysodontella madhusoodananii |
| 3a | Plants smaller, 4 cm long; leaf tip narrow subulate | Symphysodontella subulata |
| 3b | Plants robust, 8–10 cm long; leaf tip involutus | Symphysodontella involuta |
We express our sincere thanks to the staff members of the Kerala Forest Department of the Nilambur Division, and the fellow team members of the Malabar Natural History Society (MNHS), Kozhikode for extending support during the field study. We are also grateful to the authorities of the Zamorin’s Guruvayurappan College (ZGC), Kozhikode for encouragement. The first author acknowledges Kerala State Council for Science, Technology & Environment (KSCSTE), Thiruvananthapuram for the fellowship. Open access to this paper was supported by the Encyclopedia of Life (EOL) Open Access Support Project (EOASP).