Studies in the liverwort genus Fossombronia (Metzgeriales) from southern Africa. 3. An amendment to F. spinifolia

Abstract

Fossombronia spinifolia was described by Stephani (1900) from a specimen collected by Breutel at Genadendal (Gnadenthal) during his visit to the Cape, which lasted from November 1853 to April 1854 (Gunn and Codd 1981). This species was not adequately described and illustrated by Stephani or by subsequent workers. Moreover, Scott and Pike (1987) misapplied the epithet, F. spinifolia, to specimens Arnell had identified as F. leucoxantha, because they (Scott and Pike 1988) overlooked a capsule with ripe spores in the type specimen. An attempt is hereby made to describe and illustrate this species in greater detail in order to prevent more confusion in future.