Typification,taxonomy, and worldwide distribution of Braunia secunda (Hook.) Bruch & Schimp. (Hedwigiaceae)

Diagnosis and illustrations are given for Braunia secunda (Hook.) Bruch & Schimp., and a Humboldt and Bonpland specimen (BM) is selected as the lectotype. Also a collection by Arséne (BM) is designated as the lectotype for B. secunda var. crassiretis Thér. This variety is retained as synonym of B. secunda. The species concept of B. secunda is revised and a provisional key is provided to help in the identification of 23 species of Braunia, based on examination of herbarium specimens worldwide. About half of specimens from Mexico actually represent another species, B. andrieuxii Lorentz. All material examined from India, previously identified as B. secunda belongs to B. macropelma (Müll.Hal.) A.Jaeger, whereas collections from Africa are actually B. rupestris (Mitt.) A.Jaeger, B. entodonticarpa Müll.Hal., or B. diaphana (Müll.Hal.) A.Jaeger. These and other species should no longer be considered synonyms of B. secunda. The worldwide distribution of the species is documented for the United States, Mexico, Guatemala, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Venezuela, and Bolivia.     

Ephemerum hibernicum sp. nov. (Bryopsida: Ephemeraceae) from Ireland

Abstract

Ephemerum hibernicum sp. nov. is described from inundation zones of two lakes and a river in north-central Ireland and a river in western Ireland. It is most similar to E. crassinervium and E. sessile, but differs from both of these in several characters of the leaves. In particular, papillae on the upper lamina are much lower than in most E. crassinervium, while the leaves are longer and wider than in E. sessile, with a wider lamina towards the leaf apex, less well-defined costa and sometimes with large spinose marginal teeth. Ephemerum hibernicum is a rare species and its specialized habitat merits conservation.     

New and noteworthy records of mosses from Italian national and regional Parks

Some remarkable mosses, as a result of the study of both recent collections and a review of herbarium specimens, are reported in this paper. They are: Anomodon rugelii (Müll.Hal.) Keissl., new record from southern Italy, a moss very rare in the Mediterranean region and considered threatened in many European countries; Blindia acuta (Hedw.) Bruch & Schimp. and Dichodontium palustre (Dicks.) M. Stech, both new records from Sicily, are very rare mosses in Italy. Moreover, a new locality in Sicily for the little-known species Tortula bolanderi (Lesq. & James) M. Howe is reported.     

The top of the Pollino massif (southern Italy), an important refuge area for noteworthy mosses

The occurrence on the Pollino massif (southern Italy) of several remarkable mosses, which are rare or very rare in Italy, is reported. They are Orthotrichum acuminatum H. Philib., Distichium inclinatum (Hedw.) Bruch & Schimp. and Grimmia longirostris Hook., new to the southern part of the Italian peninsula, and Schistidium dupretii (Thér.) W.A. Weber, new to South Italy. Moreover, Orthotrichum cupulatum Hoffm. ex Brid. var. fuscum (Venturi) Boulay, a very rare taxon in Europe and up to now considered vanished in Italy, is rediscovered in Italy after about one century from its single previous report.     

Two new rheophytic species of Schistidium (Grimmiaceae) from China

Abstract

Two new species of Schistidium Bruch & Schimp., S. riparium H.H.Blom, Shevock, D.G.Long & Ochyra, and S. mucronatum H.H.Blom, Shevock, D.G.Long & Ochyra, are described and illustrated. They occur in rheophytic habitats in China, S. riparium in the southern Hengduan Mountains in Yunnan Province (Lancang Jiang and Nu Jiang catchments) and S. mucronatum from further north, on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau of Sichuan and Qinghai Provinces (Jinsha Jiang and Huang He catchments). The affinities of the new species are discussed and on the basis of their concave and broadly canaliculate leaves with plane and erect margins, S. riparium is tentatively placed in Schistidium Bruch & Schimp. subgen. Canalicularia Ochyra, whereas S. mucronatum on account of its keeled, ovate-lanceolate leaves and the strongly curved and twisted peristome teeth resembles very much species of sect. Apocarpiformia (Kindb.) Ochyra within subgen. Apocarpa Vilh.     

The genus Racomitrium (Grimmiaceae) in Brazil, with the first report of R. subsecundum in South America

Four species of the moss genusRacomitrium Brid. are reported from Brazil:R. subsecundum (Harv.) Wils,R. didymum (Mont.) Lorentz,R. crispipilum (Taylor) A. Jaeger, andR. visnadiae W. R. Buck.Racomitrium subsecundum is reported for the first time from South America in Brazil and Colombia. The species is fully described and illustrated.Racomitrium didymum is recorded for the first time from Brazil; the specimens previously assigned toR. crispulum (Hook.f. & Wils.) Hook.f. & Wils. represent this species.Racomitrium cucullatifolium Hampe andR. crispulum (Hook. f. & Wils.) Hook.f. & Wils. are excluded from the Brazilian bryophyte flora. All Brazilian species ofRacomitrium are briefly assessed taxonomically and bryogeographically and illustrated, and a key to their determination is given. A lectotype is selected forGrimmia didyma Mont.     

Arvernella microclada Hugonnot & Hedenäs (Amblystegiaceae), a new minute species from France,requiring a separate genus

Abstract

Arvernella microclada Hugonnot & Hedenäs is described from several localities in the Massif Central of France (Auvergne). This diminutive, autoicous, pleurocarpous moss has strongly prorate distal ends of the leaf lamina cells and straight and erect inner perichaetial leaves. It bears a superficial resemblance to small Heterocladium Bruch & Schimp. species, especially H. flaccidum (Schimp.) A.J.E.Sm. or weak phenotypes of H. wulfsbergii I.Hagen. Other small confervoid species, like Platydictya jungermannioides (Brid.) H.A.Crum or Serpoleskea confervoides (Brid.) Loeske differ in several respects, most notably in the absence of abaxial leaf lamina cell prorations, but also in rhizoid topography (Platydictya) and leaf orientation and leaf margin denticulation (Serpoleskea). Arvernella microclada grows in subalpine tall-herb communities and Fagus sylvatica L. mountain woods on small lava blocks on cold, unstable, and steep scree slopes. The restricted known geographical distribution may be of conservation concern.     

Studies of protonemal morphogenesis in mosses. X. Ephemeraceae revisited; new dimensions underground

Abstract

This systematic investigation of the filament systems in nine species of Ephemerum and two of Micromitrium revealed a range of new characters in the Ephemeraceae. Above ground most taxa have pointed chloronemata with widely spreading branches, whereas in Micromitrium, Ephemerum cohaerens and E. spinulosum, the branches are fastigiated. Four species of Ephemerum (E. sessile, E. cohaerens, E. spinulosum and E. hibernicum) have massive lipid-laden tubers, the last three with prominent spinulose side branches. Tubers, comprising chains of rounded cells, are described for the first time in Micromitrium. Unique to E. recurvifolium are starch-laden tubers and fragile chloronemal branches. The morphology of the diaspores reinforces the pottialean affinities of the Ephemeraceae. The production of long-lived tubers provides Ephemerum species predominantly found on lake and reservoir margins in the British Isles, with an alternative means of perennation on sites susceptible to inundation prior to sporophyte maturation.     

Factors affecting the digestion of moss DNA by restriction endonucleases

Abstract

The age of gametophytic tissues, de-starching, inclusion of PVP in the extraction medium, and column purification of isolated DNA have little or no effect upon the restriction of total DNA of Physcomitrella patens (Hedw.) Bruch, Schimp. & W.Gümbel. The relative longevity of restriction enzymes also appears unimportant. However, the extent of digestion of moss DNA by a given restriction endonuclease appears to correlate inversely with the number of cytosine residues in its recognition sequence that are susceptible to methylation in plant cells. Inclusion of spermidine in the restriction buffer slightly enhances restriction by a few specific endonucleases. This knowledge has practical significance when designing experiments in which it is desirable that restriction of isolated DNA samples is taken to completion.     

Preliminary remarks on Orthodontium in Europe

Abstract

The recent discovery of an Orthodontium form in two localities in Holland led us to a revision of the species concerned, viz. the species published for Europe and the type-species of the genus, O. lineare Schwaegr. It has been shown that O. gracile var. heterocarpum Wats. agrees in nearly all characters with O. lineare. Consequently the name of the variety is regarded as synonym of the type-species. O. germanicum F. W. & K. Koppe also appears to belong here. O. gracile Schwaegr. ex Br. & Schimp., however, is distinct in some important characters and is retained as a separate species. The French O. Gaumei Allorge & Thériot is markedly distinct from the other European species but is closely related to the Asiatic O. infractum. The distribution of the three species is discussed.     

Notes on thaumaleidae (1). Thaumalea dentata edwards,a synonym of Thaumalea inflata bezzi

A lectotype is designated for T. inflata Bezzi, and T. dentata Edwards is shown to be its junior synonym.     

Additional reports for Italian moss flora

As a result of the study of both recent collections and a review of herbarium specimens, the following taxa are reported for the first time from various Italian regions: Hedwigia stellata Hedenäs, Hedwigia ciliata var. leucophaea Bruch & Schimp., Pleurozium schreberi (Willd. ex Brid.) Mitt. and Ptychostomum compactum Hornsch. var. compactum. The last taxon is new for southern Italy, while the report of Pleurozium schreberi confirms the occurrence of this species in southern Italy after more than half a century. Moreover, Crossidium laxefilamentosum Frey & Kürschner represents the second report of this species from Italy.     

Phylogenetic position of the genus Bryhnia Kaurin (Brachytheciaceae,Bryophyta) inferred from chloroplast (rpl16, trnG,trnL–F) and nuclear (ITS) sequence data

Abstract

The systematic position of the genus Bryhnia Kaurin has been problematic and remains unsettled. A phylogenetic analysis of Bryhnia and closely related genera, based on the nuclear marker ITS1–5·8S–ITS2 and the plastid markers rpl16, trnG, and trnL–F, was carried out to clarify their relationships and systematic positions. The phylogenetic trees generated from Maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses show that Bryhnia s.s., represented by B. novae-angliae (Sull. & Lesq.) Grout, B. hultenii E.B.Bartram, and B. scabrida (Lindb.) Kaurin, forms a maximally supported clade nested within Brachythecium Schimp. ‘Bryhnia scabrida’ sensu is Bryhnia brachycladula Cardot, and together they form a monophyletic group with Eurhynchiadelphus eustegia (Besch.) Ignatov & Huttunen and Myuroclada maximowiczii (G.G.Borshch.) Steere & W.B.Schofield. We propose the inclusion of the species currently recognized in Bryhnia in Brachythecium, with the transfer of Bryhnia brachycladula to the genus Myuroclada Besch. Bryhnia brachycladula is further treated as a synonym of the new combination, Myuroclada longiramea (Müll.Hal.) M.Li, Y.F.Wang, M.S.Ignatov & S.Huttunen.     

Contribution À L'Étude De Quelques Bryoassociations De L'Étage Subalpin Dans Le Sud-Est De La France

Resume Dans le présent travail, l'auteur effectue une étude bryosociologique de la strate muscinale des rochers et des marécages de l'étage subalpin dans le Sud-Est de la France. Il envisage en particulier les blocs siliceux ombragés occupés par le Grimmietum elatioris (avecGrimmia elatior Bruch,Orthotrichum rupestre Schleich,Grimmia funalis (Schwaegr.) Schimp.,G. doniana Sm.,Dicranum sauteri Schimp.) ainsi que les parois suintantes de gneiss (Blindio-Amphoridietum) colonisées parBlindia acuta (Huds) B.e.,Amphoridium mougeotti B.e.,Fissidens osmundoides Hedw.,Saccobasis polita (Nees) Bruch,Gymnostomum rupestre Schleich. Les rochers calcaires en exposition froide portent, sur le pourtour de l'Argentera-Mercantour l'association àEncalypta streptocarpa Hedw. etPlagiopus oederi (Schwaegr.) Schimp. (Encalypto-Plagiopetum) très largement répandue dans les Alpes du Sud, alors qu'au voisinage des cascades appara?t une formation tufogène montagnarde àHymenostylium recurvirostre (Hedw.) Dix etSouthbya nigrella (De Not) Spruce. Les tourbières àSphagnum acutifolium Warnst,S. teres Angst,S. platyphyllum Warnst,S. recurvum P.B.,Aulacomnium palustre (Hedw.) Schwaegr. etMeesea triquetra (Hedw.) Angst. semblent inféodées, dans les régions étudiées, au vieux massif cristallin (Lac Nègre, Boréon, Vallée des Merveilles) où elles se rencontrent à partir de 1900 mètres d'altitude. Enfin, les marécages sur calcaire ou sur flysch portent des peuplements à base deBryum pallens Sw.Philonotis fontana (Hedw.) Schwaegr.,Cratoneurum commutatum (Hedw.) Roth. avec par endroitsMeesea uliginosa Hedw. etAmblyodon dealbatus (Dicks) P.B.

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Summary In this work, the author carries out a bryosociological study concerning the vegetation on rocks and bogs in the subalpine district of the high mountains of southern France. He considers particularly the siliceous blocks covered with carpets ofGrimmia elatior Bruch,Orthotrichum rupestre Schleich,Grimmia funalis (Schwaegr.) Schimp.,G. doniana Sm.,Dicranum sauteri Schimp. (Grimmietum elatioris) and the oozing gneiss-walls (Blindio-Amphoridietum) colonized byBlindia acuta (Huds) B.e.,Amphoridium mougeotti B.e.,Fissidens osmumdoides Hedw.,Saccobasis polita (Nees) Bruch., andGymnostomum rupestre Schleich. On calcareous rocks, in cold places, surrounding the Argentera-Mercantour, he found an association withEncalypta streptocarpa Hedw. andPlagiopus oederi (Schwaegr.) Schimp., (Encalypto-Plagiopetum) which is very common in the southern alps, and near waterfalls occurs a travertinic mountain-formation withHymenostylium recurvirostre (Hedw.) Dix andSouthbya nigrella (De Not) Spruce. The peat-bogs containingSphagnum acutifolium Warnst.,S. teres Angst,S. platyphyllum Warnst.,S. recurvum P.B.,Aulacomnium palustre (Hedw.) Schwaegr. andMeesea triquetra (Hedw.) Angst. seem to be particular to the old crystalline chain where we found them at an altitude of 1900 meters. Finally, calcareous or flysch-bogs present a cryptogamic vegetation withBryum pallens Sew.,Philonotis fontana (Hedw.) Schwaegr.,Cratoneurum commutatum (Hedw.) Roth. and the rareMeesea uliginosa Hedw. andAmblyodon dealbatus (Dicks) P.B.

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Zusammenfassung In dieser Arbeit, führt der Verfasser ein bryosoziologisches Studien der Felsen und der Moore in der subalpinen Stufe Süd-Ost Frankreichs aus. Er beschreibt namentlich die Silikatbl?cke, die im Schatten der W?lder von dem Grimmietum elatioris (mitGrimmia elatior Bruch.,Orthotrichum rupestre Schleich.,Grimmia funalis (Schwaegr.) Schimp.,G. doniana Sm.,Dicranum sauteri Schimp.) bedeckt sind, und die feuchten Gneissw?nde (Blindio-Amphoridietum), die vonBlindia acuta (Huds.) B.e.,Amphoridium mougeotti B.e.,Fissidens osmundoides Hedw.,Saccobasis polita (Nees) Bruch.,Gymnostomum rupestre Schleich kolonisiert werden. Auf den kalkhaltigen Bl?cken, in der N?he des Argentera-Mercantour traf er eine Moosgesellschaft mitEncalypta streptocarpa Hedw. undPlagiopus oederi (Schwaegr.) Schimp. (Encalypto-Plagiopetum), die in den Süd-Alpen sehr h?ufig ist. An den Quellen und Wasserf?llen erscheint eine tufogene Bildung der montanen Stufe mitHymenostylium recurvirostre (Hedw.) Dix undSouthbya nigrella (De Not) Spruce. In unserer Gegend, sind die Torfmoore mitSphagnum acutifolium Warnst.,S. teres Angst,S. platyphyllum Warnst,S. recurvum P.B.,Aulacomnium palustre (Hedw.) Schwaegr., undMeesea triquetra (Hedw.) Angst. dem alten kristallartigen Gebirgsstock eng belehnt, wo wir sie immer ab 1900 meter gefunden haben. Endlich, tragen die Kalk oder Flysch-Sümpfe eine besondere Kryptogamenvegetation mitBryum pallens Sw.,Philonotis fontana (Hedw.) Schwaegr.,Cratoneurum commutatum (Hedw.) Roth. und manchmal die seltenenMeesea uliginosa Hedw. undAmblyodon dealbatus (Dicks) P.B.

     

Lack of intraspecific variation in cpDNA in Trichocolea tomentella

Abstract

The Asian genus Struckia Müll.Hal. is reduced to a synonym of Plagiothecium Bruch &; Schimp. according to a phylogenetic analysis involving S. argentata (Mitt.) Müll.Hal., S. enervis (Broth.) Ignatov, T.J.Kop. &; D.G.Long and 13 representative boreal species of Plagiothecium. Two nuclear regions, ITS and partial gapC, and five chloroplast regions, rbcL, rps4-trnS, psaB, trnG and trnL-F, were utilized to reconstruct the phylogenetic relationship between Struckia and Plagiothecium. Bayesian, maximum parsimony, and maximum likelihood analyses resulted in a strongly supported clade including Struckia and Plagiothecium. Plagiothecium handelii Broth. and P. paleaceum (Mitt.) A.Jaeger, which share similar geographical ranges with Struckia and intermediate morphological traits between Struckia and Plagiothecium, grouped with the Chinese Struckia, and all of them appeared as sister to the ‘core’ of Plagiothecium. The accurate position of P. piliferum (Sw.) Schimp. remains unclear due to moderate support from all analyses, and we suggest that it is retained in Plagiothecium until further evidence is available.     

A revision of Elatostema section Weddelia series Salvinioida (Urticaceae)

Based on examinations of specimens of Elatostema and Pellionia housed at K, KUN, L, P, PE, and YUNU, Elatostema section Weddelia series Salvinioida is taxonomically revised. Two species are recognized, described, and illustrated, and a key to the species is provided. Elatostema salvinioides var. robustum W.T.Wang is treated as a synonym of E. salvinioides W.T.Wang. Pellionia imbricata Gagnepain is transferred to Elatostema and a lectotype is designated herein. A new name, Elatostema simplicissimum Q. Lin, is provided because Elatostema imbricans was previously occupied. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158 , 62–66.     

中国灰石藓属研究新资料

中国灰石藓属长期缺乏系统的形态特征描述和种间区分特征研究,分类鉴定较为困难。该研究采用经典分类学方法,通过查阅灰石藓属内相关物种的原始文献,借阅该属在中国有记载的3个物种的相关模式标本,同时搜集和观察来自美国、加拿大、俄罗斯、瑞典、瑞士、挪威、尼泊尔的标本以及中国内蒙古、四川、新疆等地的地方标本,确认了该属物种在中国的分布,增加了直叶灰石藓在内蒙古和新疆以及灰石藓在四川的新分布记录,并提供了详细的形态描述和图版,编制了中国灰石藓属植物的分种检索表。这3个物种在植物大小、叶是否具褶皱、茎叶和枝叶是否同形等特征上具有区别。该文增补的分布信息及种间区分特征可为中国灰石藓属及棉藓科相关类群的鉴定工作提供依据。     

甘肃省丛藓科植物新资料

通过对甘肃省金昌市永昌县境内龙首山及周边湿地苔藓植物进行调查鉴定,报道了甘肃省分布的丛藓科(Pottiaceae)1个新记录属——盐土藓属(Pterygoneurum Jur.)和4个新记录种——卵叶盐土藓[P.ovatum(Hedw.)Dix.]、盐土藓[P.subsessile(Brid.)Jur.]、卷叶墙藓[Tortula atrovirens(Smith)Lindb.]和狭叶链齿藓[Desmatodon cernuus(Hueb.)BruchSchimp.]。标本存放于内蒙古大学植物标本馆(HIMC)。