Plants medium to large, main shoots to 1000 µm wide. Initial branching appendages of the Incumbens-type, both segments of the BUL 1 sub-equal in length to 150 to µm long. Main leaflobe, elliptical, to 700 µm long × 400 µm wide, often with strongly incurved distal margins, when flat with widely rounded to obtuse apices, base cordate, usually both dorsal and ventral bases auriculate-appendiculate. Lobules of both main stem and lateral branches, contiguous and ±subparallel to the axis, and contiguous or distant to each other; the lobules 1.5–2Χ long as wide, to 325 µm long × 175 µm wide, obscuring approximately 0.3 to 0.5 of exposed area of dorsal lobe; the lobules campanulate, curved to subparallel sides with wide rounded apices, and ±constricted above the mouth. Underleaves of leading stems usually contiguous to distant from each other, almost as long as wide, to 300 (400) long µm × 300 (400) µm wide, ± obovate, cuneate towards base, subtransverse or arcuate insertion, broadest at middle or towards distal third where lateral margins occasionally obtusely dentate, with angulations, or obscure lobe, underleaf 0.3–0.4 bilobed by a subacute sinus. Asexual reproductionnone.
Lobemedian cellswith ± sinuous walls, convex to nodose asymmetric thickenings at the cell angles, the intervening walls ± thin with nodulose intermediate thickenings present, trigones and intermediate thickenings hyaline in contrast to the thick red-brown pigmented secondary wall layer, the cells to 28 µm long × 20 µm wide, the cells becoming gradually larger basally; lobe basal group of cells with large bulging trigones and thin intervening walls, occasionally with nodulose intermediate thickenings, the cell cavities to35 µm long × 26 µm wide. Underleaf and lobule median cells with weak sinuous walls. Asexual reproductionoccasionally by gemmae. Oil-bodies of the lobe median cells (2,3) 4–6 (7,8) per cell, collectively occupying to 0.6 of the cell lumen, subhyaline, surface appearing coarsely granular, the segmentation ± distinct, frequently spherical to subspherical, to 5.5 µm in diam., less commonly to ovoid, 4–8 µm long × 3–5 µm wide.
Gynoecia terminal on main stem or leading branches, ♀ Bracts and bracteoles in 3–4 pairs, grading to subfloral leaves; innermost bract unequally bilobed, lobe oblong to ovate with acute to narrowly rounded apices, lobe margin entire, to 750 µm long × 300 µm wide; lobule almost equal in length to lobe, but narrower, ± oblong then abruptly tapering to an acuminate apex, the free margin of at least 1 lobule per pair with 1 strong tooth near middle, terminating in a row of 3–5 uniseriate cells. Innermost bracteole free or connate with female bract on one side, to 0.4–0.6 bilobed, lobes subtriangular, acuminate apex, entire margins, occasionally with teeth developing on lateral margins of the second and third innermost bracteoles. Perianth exserted, to 1800 µm long × 900 µm wide, multiplicate, 2 ± large lateral keels + 1–2 (3) ventral keels extending from base to apex, + 2–3 accessory ventral keels of various form; thus usually ca. 5–8 keeled in transverse profile; margins of primary keels and occasionally intervening surfaces ± crenulate to crenulate-dentate, also irregularly buliform, the surface bearing numerous, very low, broad and rounded elevations, occurring on the keels or ridges and less often on intervening surfaces; perianth beak cylindrical from base to apex, often long (ca. 1/8th length of perianth) to 150 µm long, hyaline in contrast to perianth.
Affinities, differentiation & variation: Of the New Zealand species, F. media is morphologically similar to F. fugax of Australasian distribution. The suite of characters provided in Table 7.1 can distinguish the two species. Frullania media also appears morphologically similar to F. baladina of New Caledonia; among other characters, both species share a plicate perianth, with an often irregularly buliform surface. However, F. baladina typically appears to be of smaller plant size, has variously toothed underleaves (the most elaborate phenotypes with 2 teeth on each lateral margin), and the innermost bracteoles are minutely toothed along the margins, which also have 1–2 distinct laciniae
Geographic distribution: New Zealand (Fig. 7.1), extending from the central North Island, south, throughout the South Island.
Notes:
New Zealand (Fig. 7.1), extending from the central North Island, south, throughout the South Island.
Notes: Hodgson (1949) described this taxon as a variety of F. fugax. Later, Hattori (1983) raised the status of the taxon and consequently recognised it at the rank of species, which is maintained here. Hattori ibid provided a suite of features to distinguish between the species. However, it was apparent from the present study that the features provided by Hattori (1983) were clearly inadequate to separate the species. Many of the characters used previously were too variable and many dimensional characters associated with lobes, lobules, and underleaves appear to be a function of size, which in some cases appear to be highly modified by environmental conditions. Moreover, any value in dimensional values diminishes when encountered with smaller phenotypes of the generally larger plants of F. media and larger phenotypes of the generally smaller plants of F. fugax. Table 7.1 provides a comparison of those characters used by Hattori (1983) and a reassessment of characters that appear to be useful to differentiate between the two species. However, these characters themselves also require detailed growth studies to test if they are genetically fixed for the species. They do at least appear more consistent than those previously purported to be significant.
Table 7.1 Reassessment of characters distinguishing between Frullaniafugax and F. media, and a comparison of characters previously used by Hattori (1983).