Bryum incacorralis Herzog new to Chile

Abstract

During the examination of a collection made by the authors in 2009 in San Pedro de Atacama (Antofagasta Region, Chile) one specimen was identified as Bryum incacorralis Herzog, a moss not previously known from Chile (Müller, 2009) and easily confused with some species of Philonotis Brid. (Ochi, 1980). Comparison with the type material confirmed its identity (Holotype: Bolivia, Cochabamba: an Felsen der ?Estradillas? bei Incacorral, 3000 m, Herzog s.n., JE! no. 04003475). Bryum incacorralis was first described by Herzog (1909) based on material collected in Cochabamba (Bolivia), and later recorded by Griffin (1977) and O?Shea (2010) from Venezuela. It is placed in the so-called sect. ?Alpiniformia? within the genus Bryum which is characterized by the presence of ovate to ovate-lanceolate leaf shape, the costa ceasing just below the leaf apex, the very dense areolation of the leaf, and long, more or less clavate capsules (Ochi, 1980). This note constitute the first record of Bryum incacorralis from Chile, where the species was found in the highlands of the north part of the country, in San Pedro de Atacama, an arid high plateau placed at the east of Antofagasta, growing on soil between Laretia, at ca. 4000 m. Bryum incacorralis is a distinctive species characterized by small to medium sized plants, scarcely lustrous, with ovate-lanceolate leaves, not or hardily bordered, equally spaced through the stem, with an acuminate apex and an abruptly narrowed base; laminal cells hexagonal to short-rectangular, and a costa ceasing just below the apex. Chilean specimen is synoicous, with antheridia and archegonia mixed at the same gametoecium, with abundant filiform paraphyses longer than the sexual structures. In comparison with the type specimen, the Chilean sample is more robust, its leaves margin are little revolute, and the apex vary from mild to markedly abruptly acuminate, sometimes ending in a small mucro.