Octoblepharum peristomiruptum (Octoblepharaceae) a new species from the Neotropics

Abstract

Octoblepharum peristomiruptum, a new species of moss in the family Octoblepharaceae from Panama and Brazil, is described and illustrated. The new species is characterised by plants with a reddish-purple colour particularly at the leaf bases, peristomes of eight teeth, each tooth composed of two rows of cells, fenestrate and usually completely separated at the base, strongly vertically striate-reticulate, some striations forked-like in shape. At the base of the teeth, some striations are horizontally orientated, poorly developed or absent, particularly on the cell wall that is rupturing in the separation of the vertical rows of the cells that form each tooth.