Prasanthus Lindberg in Kgl. Sv. Vetensk. Akad. Handl. 23 (5): 62. 1989.
Greek prason, onion, plus anthos, flower
Won Shic Hong
Plants ca. 0.5 mm wide, forming dense prostrate mats. Stem a subterranean rhizome, ca. 5--10 mm, with numerous rhizoids. Leaves transversely inserted, scalelike, elliptical; cell walls thick and colorless; lobes shallowly 2-lobed 0.1--0.2 of their length, broadly triangular, entire or shallowly emarginate at the apex; oil bodies usually absent. Underleaves minute, 0.1--0.2 size of leaves, ovate-elliptical, unlobed to 2-lobed. Sexual condition paroicious. Specialized asexual reproduction absent. Antheridia axillary, male bracts similar to leaves, 1--3-androus, antheridial stalk 2-seriate. Gynoecia terminal on main stem, bulbous, bracts in several pairs, bearing slime papillae. Perianth absent. Perigynium fleshy, cup-like, densely rhizoidous. Capsule ovoid, wall 2-stratose. Elaters 6--8 m wide. Spores 12--14 m.
Species 1 (1 in the flora): European Alps and High Arctic regions of the Northern Hemisphere.
SELECTED REFERENCES
Hedderson, T. A., L. Söderström and G. R. Brassard. 2001. Hepaticae of the Torngat Mountains, northern Labrador, Canada. Lindbergia 26: 143--156. Schuster, R. M. 1974. Prasanthus Lindb. & Arn. In: R. M. Schuster, 1966--1993. Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America, New York. Vol. 3. pp. 157--166. Schuster, R. M. and N. Konstantinova. 1996. Studies on the distribution of critical arctic/subarctic Hepaticae with special reference to taxa found in Russia. Lindbergia 21: 26--48.
