Metzgeria miriopoda Lindb. in Uruguay. In: L.T.Ellis, ed. New National and Regional Bryophyte Records 32

Abstract

As the mosses, the liverwort flora of Uruguay is poorly known with large areas without studies and exploration (Ellis et al., 2012, 2011). According to Hässel de Menendez & Rubies (2009) only 30 species of Marchantiophyta are recorded from Uruguay, and the genus Metzgeria is not represent in this country. During the examination of a recent collection of bryophyte from Uruguay, M. myriopoda was identified. This is an American species, reported in South America from Equator, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina and Paraguay (Kuwahara, 1986; Nieva & Schiavone, 2002; Costa, 2008). In Uruguay, M. myriopoda occurs in Cerro Largo, a temperate and warm grassland area exhibiting some forested zones where exotics and few native tree species are found, characterized by precipitations rates around 1100-1200 mm/year. Taking into account the climatic characteristic of the area in which M. myriopoda was collected in Cerro Largo, and previous records, there is an extensive degree of environmental conditions under which M. myriopoda can grow, including several substrates (cortex, rocks, soil and as epiphytic), temperature ranges and altered environments. The examination of M. Myriopoda revealed that the characters are highly constant, presenting 2-8 epidermal dorsal cells and 4-6 epidermal ventral ones of the midrib; the convex wings with straight short geminate hairs, and abundant marginal gemma. This note constitutes the first record for Metzgeria genus from Uruguayan lands, extending the distributional range of M. myriopoda to Cerro Largo in Uruguay.