Symphysodontella madhusoodananii (Pterobryaceae, Moss) a new species from the Western Ghats of India

Abstract 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.


Introduction
Symphysodontella Fleischer is a genus of nine species known so far from India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Th ailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, New Caledonia, Borneo and the Philippines. Magill (1980) examined this genus carefully and defi ned it in detail by shifting the odd members to other genera such as Myurium and Pterobryopsis. Th e genus is characterised by long stem, creeping on bark, usually dendroid by pinnate or bipinnate branching or long drooping, sometimes with fl agelliform branches; leaves ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, concave, with short, single or double costa, leaf cells elongate-smooth. Th e alar is usually not diff erentiated, however in some species it is coloured and with porose walls. Th e capsule is immersed or exserted, with small, cucullate, naked, calyptra. Th e spores are large and papillose.
Four taxa, viz., Symphysodontella borii Dixon, S. pilifolia Dixon, S. subulata Broth. and S. tortifolia Dixon were reported from the North-eastern India (Gangulee 1972 (Manju et al. 2008, Daniels 2010. 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.

Taxonomic treatment
Symphysodontella madhusoodananii Manju & Rajesh, sp. nov. http://species-id.net/wiki/Symphysodontella_madhusoodananii Diagnosis. Symphysodontella madhusoodananii is characterised by very short, double costate, oblong-lanceolate, long acuminate leaves. It shows some similarities to S. tortifolia Dixon in its long acuminate, complanate plicate leaves and some leaves being tortuose at tip. However, it diff ers 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 diff ers having long drooping primary branches, short secondary branches and presence of copious fl agelliform branches. S. madhusoodananii also shows some similarity with S. subulata Broth. in its two short-costate, ovate-lanceolate leaves, elongate-linear porose cells and yellowish brown stem attachment cells. However, it diff ers in cells being highly porose in its lateral wall and in the middle layer, the pores being rounded.
Description. 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 fl agelliform branches, fl agella 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 diff erentiated 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 fl agella almost same size and shape; sporophyte not seen (Figure 1 a-s).
Distribution. 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.
Ecology. It was found growing as epiphytic on branches of trees of shola forest. Etymology. 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.

Discussion
Symphysodontella madhusoodananii is similar to S. tortifolia in its long acuminate, complanate plicate leaves and some leaves being tortuose at tip. It diff ers from S. 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 S. tortifolia the costa in the secondary branch leaf is single, reaching a little more than half the length. Th e secondary branches are dendroid by bi-pinnate branching with branching in diff erent planes in S. tortifolia, and lacks fl agelliform branches. However, in S. madhusoodananii the primary branches are long drooping, secondary branches short and fl agelliform branches are frequent.
S. madhusoodananii also shows some similarity with S. subulata Broth. in its two short costa and ovate-lanceolate leaves. However, in S. 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 fl agellate. Th e costa and cells at stem attachment is yellowish brown, alar cells not prominently diff erentiated but with deep brown, rectangular porose cells and the leaf insertion is U-shaped. Gangulee (1972) commented that the Indian population of S. subulata Broth. scarcely shows any fl agellate branch. However, such branches are reported from the Philippine populations, but with having single costa. Th e present species is characterised by the leaves being oblong-lanceolate, and with very short and double costa (Table 1). A key to the Indian species of Symphysodontella is also given for easy identifi cation.
Conservation status. Th e 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 km 2 , is one of the most notable areas in the Western Ghats of Northern Kerala for its unique assemblage of fl oristic elements. Th e rare blending of many interesting fl oral elements makes this area as one among the most potential area to be considered for long term conservation. Th e 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. Th e proposed plan for designating the New Amarambalam forests of Kerala as a Wildlife Sanctuary has not been materialised yet. Th e area with its unique geographical location, which changes along a sharp altitudinal gradient and thus off ering a good array of natural habitats, forming the rare blend of species assemblages, is no doubt, an ideal landscape to be conserved. Th is 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.