Polytrichum tongariroense Colenso,a resurrected name in New Zealand Dendroligotrichum (Polytrichaceae)

Abstract

Interpopulational, interspecific comparison of the habitats, structural features, and distribution of Tomenthypnum in North America and eastern Asia indicate that T. falcifolium and T. nitens are present in both areas. The Chinese populations occur in habitats similar to North American T. falcifolium. Statistical and multivariate analyses of seven characters indicate that the Chinese populations are intermediate with, but distinct from the North American populations of T. nitens and T. falcifolium. We conclude that taxonomically, the Chinese populations belong within the concept of T. falcifolium, and when further collections are known from eastern Asia, may belong to a geographically isolated subspecific taxon.