Groutiella husnotii H. A. Crum & Steere

Groutiella husnotii (Besch.) H.A. Crum & Steere (Fig. 7)

The Bryologist 53: 147 (Crum & Steere 1950).

SPECIMENS EXAMINED. — Brazil. S.l., Tello s.n. (HBG[2189-4]).

Colombia. Cundinamarca, Villeta Municipio, Linares & Churchill 4138 (MO); Magdalena, Filo Cartagena, Churchill & Linares 18419 (MO).

Dominica. St. George, Hegewald 9430 (MO).

Honduras. Comayagua, from Agua Amarilla to San José Del Los Planes, Allen 14033B (MO).

Martinique. St. Pierre, Husnot 145 (holo-, PC, NY); s.l., s.n. (HBG [2189-8]).

Puerto Rico. Barranquitas, Steere 4605 (MO); Jayuya, 29.III.1929, Laubengayer s.n. (MO); 30.III.1929, Laubengayer s.n. (MO); Villalba, Steere 6852 (MO); Cayey, Steere 5101 (MO); Steere 5245 (MO); Adjuntas, Steere 7180 (MO).

Venezuela. Lara, Seirra de Portuguesa, Griffin 334 (MO); Mérida, Distrito Libertador, Griffin et al. 017508 (MO); Monagas, Caripe, Pursell 8479 (MO); Santa Inés, Pursell 8955 (MO).

DISTRIBUTION AND HABITAT. — The tropical region of America. On bark, or on rocks; (140-) 900-1800 m.

For description, see Grout 1946; Churchill & Linares 1995; Allen 2002.

The extraordinary character of Groutiella husnotii is that the height of leaf marginal border is the tallest in Groutiella, which usually extends to 2/3 of the leaf, and even can reach into the apex.The length of the stout apiculus which is formed by the excurrent costa varies in length from 90 µm (e.g. Hegewald 9430) to 240 µm (e.g. Steere 7180).

Crosby (1970) pointed out that G. apiculata was similar to G. husnoti since they both have a stout apicula and excurrent costa, therefore, G. apiculata and G. husnotii could be confused by each other (e.g. HBG[2189-4] identified to G. apiculata). However, G. husnotii can be easily identified by its longer limbidia (2/3 of leaf, Fig. 7 G-H) and a lanceolate leaf with acute to acuminate apex, at the same time, G. apiculata differs in much shorter limbidia (1/3 of leaf) and a lingulate leaf with obtuse apex (Figs 4 G-H; 7F).