Fissidens dietrichiae

Detailed description

Plants up to 20 mm tall, densely tufted, pale green to dull dark green, usually erect, sparingly branched. Leaves ± crowded, 1.4-1.6 x 0.36-0.48 mm, lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, based narrowed, margin entire; apex curled when dry, erect when moist, acuminate, very weakly crenulate; border prominent to just below apex; costa prominent, reaching apex or just below, reddish brown, up to 45 µm wide at the base. Laminal cells mostly hexagonal, to 12 µm long, with those nearer the costa often slightly larger; basal juxtacostal cells on dorsal lamina rectangular, to 38 µm long, bordered by c.2 rows of thin-walled linear cells to 60 x 2 µm; cells moderately hick-walled, lacking papillae. Vaginant lamina 3/4 leaf length, joining half-way between costa and margin; cells similar to dorsal lamina. Rhizoids sparse, reddish, smooth, to 1.1 mm x 20 µm wide; cells 120-180 µm long. Monoicous or dioicous. perichaetia c.200 µm long. Seta erect, dull red, 4-10 mm long. Capsule suberect, ± oblong, 0.7-0.9 mm long, brownish. Operculum slightly conical-acute. Exostome teeth strongly incurved, deep red, 160-300 µm, papillose. Spores opaque, 16-25 µm, reddish brown. Fruiting material not known from New Zealand description based on Norfolk Island material.