A Key to the African species of Leucophanes
M. Onreadt
Extracted from: Bryophytes des iles mascareno-malgaches et Seychelles I et II. Bull. Jard. Bot. Nat. Belg. 46:351-378 (1976)
Translated by C.R. Stevenson
Since this key was written, a revision of the Leucophanes of the world has been produced: Salazar Allen, Noris. 1993. A revision of the pantropical moss genus Leucophanes Brid. Bryophytorum Bibliotheca 46:1-139. Two of Onreadt's species are now regarded as synonyms (see key). This revision also contains records for the East African islands for three other species: L. glaucum, L. molleri and L. octoblepharoides. There is also a west African species, L. unguiculatum. It is suggested that Noris Salazar's key be used if there is any doubt about a specimen's identification.
NB The terms hypercentric / centric / hypocentric are used by Onreadt to describe the position of the chlorocyst cells. My (CRS) interpretation is that hypercentric = exactly in mid leaf; centric = more - or - less in mid leaf; hypocentric = off centre.
| 1 | Chorocysts triangular, quadrangular, pentagonal in section. [Endemic to Madagascar] | L. renauldii [L. heterodictyon] |
| 1 | Chlorocysts all quadrangular in section | 2 |
| 2 | Plants spindly, sub-acaulous, not more than 1cm high. Leaves narrowly linear lanceolate, longly acuminate, 3 - 4.25mm x 0.25 - 0.3mm. Marginal stereomes entire. Basal leucocysts shortly rectangular, the rest subquadrate or hexagonal.Chlorocysts distinctly hypercentric, almost to the leaf tip, when they become hypocentric. [Endemic to Madagascar] | L. renauldii |
| 2 | Plants more vigorous | 3 |
| 3 | Stem short / very short; leaves very long & narrow, generally very sharply pointed; 5 - 8mm x 0.4 - 0.5mm. Marginal stereomes finely denticulate from mid-leaf, one more strongly than the other. Inferior leucocysts elongate-rectangular, those in mid-leaf a little irregularly oblong, the upper short, almost square. Basal & apical chlorocysts hypercentral, those on the greater part of the nerve central. [Endemic to Réunion] | L. angustifolium |
| 3 | Stems longer | 4 |
| 4 | Marginal stereomes toothless, except near the leaf tip. Leaves 5 - 6mm x 0.4 - 0.5mm. Median stereome with numerous robust teeth at leaf tip. Upper and lower leucocysts all elongate-rectangular, those in mid-leaf short, hexagonal. Basal chlorocysts hypercentric, those of the greater part of the nerve centric, the apical ones slightly hypocentric | L. hildebrandtii |
| 4 | Marginal stereomes, sometimes singly, sometimes both, more-or-less denticulate in the upper portion of the leaf | 5 |
| 5 | Leaves 4 - 5mm x 0.5 - 0.9mm. Median stereome more-or-less covered by the leucocysts of the dorsal layer, and often completely so. Leucocysts short, shortly reectangular, square or hexagonal. Chlorocysts markedly hypercentric towards the base, hypercentric or subcentric throughout the greater part of the midrib. Sometimes a little hypocentric at the tip | L. rodriguezii |
| 5 | Leaves 6 -7mm x 0.4 - 0.6mm narrowly linear lanceolate & longly ligulate (thong / strap shaped) / acuminate, with wide wings, of 6 -10 series of cels. Median stereome emergent on the dorsal surface, generally dilated and denticulate or tuberculate towards the leaf tip. Leucocysts shortly rectangularor sub-hexagonal. Basal chlorocysts hypercentric, those in mid leaf centric, the apical ones hypocentric | L angustifolium [L mayottense] |
| 5 | 5. Leaves 5 - 6mm x 0.5 - 0.75mm, generally acute. Median stereome emergent onto the dorsal surface, and sometimes onto the ventral surface too. Inferior leucocysts elongate, the others short, almost square. Chlorocysts hypocentric in mid-leaf. Pores in interior walls of leucocysts small, very distinct, and strongly bordered. [Endemic to Seychelles] | L. seychellarum |
TBG42/leucp Issue 1 - 15.08.96
