Two new Zoopsis species and their relationships to other zoopsids (Jungermanniopsida: Lepidoziaceae)

Abstract

We describe and illustrate two highly distinctive new species of Zoopsis from New Zealand. To assess their relationships to other species we performed parsimony and splits-based analysis of morphological data. Our analysis resolves Zoopsis bicruris as a member of subgenus Zoopsis, but is inconclusive with respect to the affinities of Z. matawaia. Our analysis groups Zoopsis matawaia with Z. ceratophylla and Zoopsidella caledonica, on the basis of their shared possession of caducous leaf lobes. The interpretation of this character as a defining apomorphy is at odds with currently accepted hypotheses of character evolution, which regard it as symplesiomorphic, and regard reduced seta anatomy as an apomorphy defining Zoopsidella. However, trees constrained to retain Zoopsidella as a monophyletic unit were two steps longer than unconstrained trees, and had slightly poorer measures of support. Our analysis resolves Monodactylopsis nested within Zoopsidella, which is in turn nested within Zoopsis, and identifies Hyalolepidozia as sister to a clade corresponding to the Zoopsidoideae with moderate bootstrap support.     

List of Members

Abstract

Bazzania okaritana, a new species from South Island, New Zealand, is described and illustrated, and a comparison with similar species is made. The new species is most similar to Bazzania hochstetteri (Reichardt) E.A. Hodgs. and Bazzania exempta J.J. Engel, but differs in several respects from both these species.     

Bryophytes of St Helena,South Atlantic Ocean. 4. Kurzia nemoides (Hook.f. et Taylor) Grolle and Lepidozia africana Steph. (Jungermanniales,Lepidoziaceae) described from the island

Abstract

The little known species Kurzia nemoides (Hook.f. et Taylor) Grolle and Lepidozia africana Steph. (Lepidoziaceae) are described and illustrated from St Helena, South Atlantic Ocean. Details are given of their distributions on the island, and the differences between related species are discussed. This is the first report of the genus Lepidozia from St Helena.