STUDIES OF FISSIDENS (BRYOPHYTA, MUSCI) IN NEW-ZEALAND - FISSIDENS-STRICTUS HOOK-F AND WILS AND FISSIDENS-BERTEROI (MONT) C-MUELL, WITH A DISCUSSION OF AQUATIC ADAPTATIONS

Fissidens strict us and F. berteroi are two Southern Hemisphere aquati c mosses which are apparently rare in New Zealand, but known from wide ly scattered localities. They contrast in morphology, F. strictus bein g a typical rheophyte, with stiff compact shoots, while F. berteroi ha s the lax habit typical of a limnophyte. Their detailed morphology is described and illustrated, their known New Zealand distribution docume nted, and observations made on their ecology. Fissidens strictus is le ctotypified.