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Ephemeropsis trentepohlioides

Ephemeropsis trentepohlioides is a peculiar moss from the family Daltoniaceae (1,2). Two species belong to the genus Ephemeropsis, E. trentepohlioides and E. tjibodensis GOEB (1). E. trentepohlioides is widespread on the North and South islands of New Zealand, and sparsely found in southern Tasmania, and a singular record in Victoria, Australia, hailing from the Otway Ranges, and E. tjibodensis GOEB found in Asia, NW Australia, and New Caledonia (1,3). Ephemeropsis trentepohlioides is a unique epiphytic moss which forms mats on living or dead bark and twigs (1,2,4). The protonema appears a red-brown colour in an almost desiccated fashion (1,2,4).

Description

The epiphytic moss E. trentepohlioides can be characterised by the unique role of the protonemata and the appearance of the sporophyte (2,3). The protonemata commonly in mosses is a juvenile developmental stage, composed of branching filaments that eventuate in to three dimensional leafy shoots (3,4). The protonemata in E. trentepohlioides, however, is persistent and plays a major photosynthetic role (1,3). This well-developed and persistent protonemata resembles the algae Trentepohlia, hence the etymology of the species name trentepohlioides (1,4). The mat-like protonemata structure aids in water retention and capture assisting the epiphytic nature of this moss (4).

The sporophyte is typical of the family Daltoniaceae, which tend to have mitrate, bonnet-shaped, calyptae with a fringed base (2). The fringed base, the exostome, have 16 paired teeth which reflex when dry and incurve when moist (2).

Habitat

E. trentepohlioides is hosted on small, dead or living, branches and twigs belonging to shrubs and trees, and rarely on the surface of living leaves (1,2,4). Abundance of E. trentepohlioides is in open scrub with constant high humidity, although infrequently found in damp forests (2,4). Species associations are somewhat predictive, although associations with Pseudowintera colorata are prevalent in New Zealand (1).

Distribution

E. trentepohlioides distribution in New Zealand is wide, ranging from latitude 37° 20's and 46°S, abundance is rich on the Western Coast of the South Island, however North Island distribution is sporadic - this may be due to restrictions upon humidity (1).

Sparse distribution in south-south-west Tasmania (2). The first recorded finding was in the Florentine Valley (Willis, 1953), subsequent findings in Myrtle Gully, Collinsvale (G. Glenny), and in the Junee Valley (P. J. Dalton) expand recorded distribution in Tasmania (2). A singular record was made in the Otway Ranges (D. Meagher, pers. comm., 28 Aug. 2016) (1).

Reproduction

E. trentepohlioides is autoicous, with antheridia and archegonia reproductive shoots arising from the same primary protonema (3,4). Perichaetial and perigonial bract surround the reproductive shoots (4). The spores are large, multicellular and fusiform or oblong in shape. Spores of E. trentepohlioides can occasionally germinate in capsule (2,4).

Describing the protonema reproductive strategy of E. trentepohlioides is troublesome (1). No accepted term is current to express the autoicous condition of both gametangia arising from the protonema (1).

References

(1)	www.nzflora.info. (n.d.). Flora of New Zealand | Taxon Profile | Ephemeropsis trentepohlioides. [online] Available at: http://www.nzflora.info/factsheet/Taxon/Ephemeropsis-trentepohlioides.html#distribution [Accessed 5 Mar. 2020]. (2)	Dalton, P. (1998). New locality records for some rare mosses in Tasmania. Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania, 132, pp.41–45. (3)	www.nzplants.auckland.ac.nz. (n.d.). Ephemeropsis trentepohlioides - The University of Auckland. [online] Available at: http://www.nzplants.auckland.ac.nz/en/about/mosses/native-species/daltonaceae/Ephemeropsis-trentepohlioides.html [Accessed 6 Mar. 2020].

(4)	Bartlett, J.K. and Iwatsuki, Z. (1985). The bryophyte flora of New Zealand Taxonomy and distribution of Ephemeropsis trentepohlioides and E. tjibodensis with a note on the ecology and distribution of Buxbaumia novae-zelandiae. New Zealand Journal of Botany, 23(2), pp.179–182.

(5)	Jensen, L. (n.d.). Capsule with calyptra cover. University of Auckland. Available at: http://www.nzplants.auckland.ac.nz/en/about/mosses/native-species/daltonaceae/Ephemeropsis-trentepohlioides.html.

(6)	 Tng, D. (2007). E. trentepohlioides. Flickr. Available at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/davidtng/2144412683.