Zoopsis nitida
Common name
Liverwort
Synonyms
None (first described in 1997)
Family
Lepidoziaceae
Flora category
Non-vascular – Native
Structural class
Liverworts
Current conservation status
- Conservation status of New Zealand mosses, 2014 (PDF, 583.87 kB)
The conservation status of 109 New Zealand moss taxa was assessed using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). Four taxa and one undescribed entity that were not included in previous assessments have been added to the list. The conservation status of only two taxa has changed in this assessment. A full list is presented, along with a statistical summary and brief notes on the changes. This list replaces all previous NZTCS lists for mosses. Authors: Jeremy R. Rolfe, Allan J. Fife, Jessica E. Beever, Patrick J. Brownsey and Rodney A. Hitchmough.
- Conservation status of New Zealand hornworts and liverworts, 2014 (PDF, 695.44 kB)
The conservation status of the New Zealand hornwort and liverwort flora is reassessed using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS). A full list is presented, along with a statistical summary and brief notes on the most important changes. This list replaces all previous NZTCS lists for New Zealand hornworts and liverworts which previously had been part of a generic bryophyte conservation status assessment that included mosses. Authors: Peter J. de Lange, David Glenny, John Braggins, Matt Renner, Matt von Konrat, John Engel, Catherine Reeb and Jeremy Rolfe.
Source: NZTCS and licensed by DOC for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence.
2009 | Sparse
Distribution
Endemic. North Island (Waipoua to the Waitakere Ranges)
Detailed description
Plants glossy, dark-green, creeping. Stems 13-15 mm long, broad and flat, plano-convex to biconvex, 0.34-0.55 mm wide at the widest point. ).06-0.07 mm high, sparingly branched, in two ways: terminal, Frullania-type branching,and unilateral, ventral-intercalary branching; intercalary branches short (1.5 mm long) and infrequent (1-2 per plant). Branches often attenuate at apex. Ventral-intercalary flagellae present, hyaline. Cells of the central strand in 9-12 rows. leaves caducous, present only near the growing tip of stem or branches where they are present as single cells, or rarely as 3-celled ephemeral vestiges. Under-leaves vestigial. Rhizoids arising from ventral median cells in fascicles from the bases of the under-leaves, hyaline 70 microns long, unicellular with a clavate apex. Cells of the dorsal surface 70-150 x 120-170 microns, 30-40 microns deep. Cells of the ventral surface 60-80 x 100-140 microns, 20-25 microns deep. Cells of the central strand on the ventral surface 100-110 x 40-50 microns, 12 microns deep. Oil bodies 4-35 per cell, 4 x 4 microns to 10 x 10 microns to 13 x 5 microns, spherical to spindle-shaped, botryoidal, pale greyish (the smallest spherical and almost smooth; the larger spherical to spindle-shaped and distinctly botryoidal). Dioicous. Perianths on short ventral branches, pyriform, 1.1-1.6 x 0.6 mm, divided at the apex into 6 teeth, each 0.5-0.7 mm long (about one-third of the perianth). Gynoecial bracts c.9 mm long, trilobed, with teeth of varying height, the largest 600 microns, the smallest 260 microns long. Seta c.6 mm long at maturity, 180-200 microns diameter, with 8 outer cell rows (cells 110-160 x 50 microns), c. 12 inner cell rows of small diameter. Capsule c.0.5 mm diameter with segments c.630 x 240 microns, with outer wall cells 13 x 4 microns with transverse thickenings. Spores c.15 microns diameter, spherical, finely reticulate-ridged. Elaters 150-290 microns long, spirally thickened.
Fruiting
Have been seen but range is unknown
Threats
Since its description in 1997 knowledge of this species has improved. It is now no logner regarded as threatened. A spate of recent gatherings show that this species is naturally uncommon but widely distributed and so is best rated sparse
Substrate
In dark holes on rotting bark and wood, tree fern tunks, and root flanges. In dark, damp sites.
Etymology
nitida: From the Latin nitidus ‘glossy’