| Diagnosis |
Thalli are erect, to 15 cm high, pinnately branched up to 5 orders and lack a percurrent main axis. The holdfast is densely rhizoidal. Axes are corticated from close to the apices with corticating filaments arising from the periaxial cells, approximately 12-14 cells proximal to the apex. Proximal axial cells are 450-500 μm wide and 240-270 μm long. Each axial cell bears a single lateral in a distichous-alternate pattern. Determinate branchlets are ecorticate, curved upwards and up to 12 cells long. The basal 3 cells of a determinate lateral bear each a short adaxial side branch, the fourth to the ninth cell bear an arched abaxial branchlet and the remaining cells remain unbranched, except for the ultimate and penultimate cells, which bear 1-2 (-4) spine-like cells. Indeterminate branchlets are formed irregularly and repeat the branching pattern of the main axes. Tetrahedrally divided tetrasporangia (60 μm long, 40-50 μm wide) are borne laterally on cells of the ultimate branchlets. Gametophytes were not observed (Ref. 82093). |