ON THE DISTRIBUTION AND MORPHOLOGY OF HEBANTIA RIGIDA (BRYOPSIDA, POLYTRICHACEAE)

Abstract

  Numerous new collections are reported for the Chilean monotypic, endemic genus Hebantia (Polytrichaceae), mainly as a result of extensive field work in the Bío-Bío Region in the south-central part of the country. A complete list of collections of H. rigida (Lorentz) G. L. S. Merrill is provided. The ecology of the species, previously unknown, is discussed. Several morphological features are shown in SEM micrographs and light microscopy. The morphology of the male and female plants is found to differ in a number of features