Search

Large genera, that were defined using a restricted suite of morphological characters, are particularly prone to be polyphyletic. We analysed a representative selection of species traditionally assigned to the genus Barbula, believed to represent the largest genus of the moss family Pottiaceae, but which recently was suggested to be polyphyletic. Special attention was paid to species traditionally assigned to Barbula sect. Hydrogonium and sect. Convolutae, in which phylogenetic relationships are likely to be incongruent with morphological traits, which could have evolved in adaptation to hydric and otherwise extreme habitats. Our phylogenetic analysis was based on nrlTS and chloroplast rps4 and trnM-trnVsequence data and resolved only the type of the genus, B. unguiculata, plus B. orizabensis, in subfamily Pottioideae, while most of the species occurring in the Northern Hemisphere are part of Trichostomoideae and need to be recognized within the re-established and partly re-defined genera Hydrogonium and Streblotrichum. The phylogenetically and morphologically divergent B. bicolor needs to be removed from Streblotrichum to a newly described genus, Gymnobarbula. Numerous taxonomic changes and nomenclatural novelties, resulting from the molecular, morphological and nomenclatural studies are proposed for taxa of Hydrogonium, particularly within the H. consanguineum clade. Lectotypes are selected for Tortula angustifolia Hook. & Grev. (= Hydrogonium angus-tifolium (Hook. & Grev.) Jan Kucera, comb, nov.), Tortula consanguinea Thwaites & Mitt. (= Hydrogonium consanguineum (Thwaites & Mitt.) Hilp.) and Tortula flavescens Hook. & Grev. (= Hydrogonium consanguineum (Thwaites & Mitt.) Hilp.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional taxa that are non-monophyletic (paraphyletic or polyphyletic) on a molecular phylogenetic tree may be interpreted as surviving ancestors that are evolutionarily static in expressed traits but accumulating DNA changes used to track genetic continuity. In cases in which re-evolution (convergence) of such taxa is deemed improbable, non-monophyly may be used to infer evolutionary trees of virtual fossils reflecting macroevolution. A taxon tree or Besseyan cactus of the family Pottiaceae (Bryophyta) is presented as an example. Non-monophyly may be evolutionarily informative at the taxon level in the same way synapomorphies are phylogenetically informative at the molecular trait level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lectotypes are designated for nineteen names applicable to species of Tortula sect. Pottia (Ehrh. ex Rchb.) Kindb. and one found to refer to Micro bryum starkeanum (Hedw.) R.H. Zander. Our results show that Des- matodon gasilienii Vent., Pottia lanceolata var. lejolisii Corb., P. lanceolata var. papillosa Corb., and Tortula lindbergii Kindb. ex Broth. are all referable to the species currently known as Tortula lanceola R.H. Zander, which must, therefore, be replaced by Tortula lindbergii, published a hundred years earlier. Pottiafleischeri Warnst. is here considered to be a synonym of Tortula virid~folia (Mitt.) Blockeel & A.J.E. Smith and not of Tortula wilsonii (Hook.) R.H. Zander as proposed elsewhere. Pottia littoralis Mitt., P. notarisii Schimp., and P. propagul~fera Herzog are conspecific with Tortula pal/ida (Lindb.) RH. Zander. Pottia lanceolata var. leucodonta Schimp. is synonymized with Microbryum starkeanum (Hedw.) R.H. Zander. Another important change involves Tortula caucasica Lindb. ex Broth., which is considered to be conspecific with Tortula modica R.H. Zander, and must replace that name. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Types for the names Barbula saxicola Lamy, Barbula subulata var. longifolia Kindb., Syntrichia alpina Brid., Tortula inermis var. submarginata Schiffn., and Tortula subulata var. compacta Schiffn., are designated here. Syntrichia alpina is considered conspecific with T. subulata Hedw., with which Tortula inermis var. submarginata and T. subulata var. compacta are also synonymized, as is Barbula subulata var. longifolia with T. schimperi M.J. Cano & al. Barbula saxicola is here considered to apply to the species currently known as DiaIytrichia fragilifoIia (Bizot & Cl. Roux) F. Lara; as B. saxicola has priority, this necessitates the new combination D. saxicola (Lamy) M.J. Cano. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bayesian analysis of an alignment of 83 nrITS sequences belonging to 66 taxa of Pottiaceae revealed representatives of subfamily Trichostomoideae in a well supported monophyletic lineage. Two robust clades within Trichostomoideae include species of Tortella and Weissia, respectively. Eucladium verticillatum is part of Trichostomoideae, and Anoectangium, Gymnostomum, Hymenostylium, and Tuerckheimia form a robust basal clade. Affinities of Hyophila and Leptobarbula to Trichostomoideae are unclear. Within Trichostomoideae, Pleurochaete squarrosa is resolved in Tortella while Trichostomum tenuirostris, Pseudosymblepharis, and Chionoloma are placed as a separate genus or part of a broadly defined Tortella. The type species of Trichostomum, T. brachydontium, is nested in Weissia together with T. brittonianum, T. crispulum, and T. jamaicensis. Trichostomum unguiculatum and W. ayresii are resolved as closely related and separate from the rest of the Weissia clade. The genus Astomum, erected for cleistocarpous species of Weissia, is also nested within Weissia. Genetic divergence between selected accessions of Weissia controversa and Astomum is sometimes smaller than between accessions of Weissia controversa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty-four gametophytic characters were evaluated to identify the phylogenetic relationships among the known species of Aloinella. A previous study proposed that Aloinella derived from Aloina, mainly by stem elongation and leaf character reduction. In this analysis, it was observed that the most plesiomorphic species in the Aloina and Aloinella clades occur in Mexico. The distribution and the cladistic study support the view that both genera are monophyletic, but the phylogenetic relationships of the species may need further analysis with the inclusion of sporophytic characters. Sporophytes are infrequent in Aloinella. The smooth-walled A. cucullatifolia, A. boliviana, and A. cucullifera form a group that separates cladistically from the papillose taxa A. catenula, A. venezuelana, A. galeata var. galeata, and A. galeata var. andina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Evidence is provided that the first person to validly publish a name for the species that Linnaeus termed "Bryum verticillatum" in 1753 was Withering in 1801, and that his name actually constitutes the basionym of the well-known moss name, correctly cited as Eucladium verticillatum (With.) Bruch & Schimp. (Bryophyta, Pottiaceae). "Weissia verticillata (Hedw.) ex Brid." of 1801, which has hitherto been considered the basionym of this binomial, is a nomen nudum; the combination Weissia verticillata was validly published by Bridel in 1806. Bryum verticillatum With. is lectotypified here with a specimen from Cumberland, England, that is preserved at BM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aricle presents a proposal to maintain the scientific name for the fungus Tortula angustata (Chionoloma: Augustatum) against a counterproposal to name it Syrrhopodon crispus (Bryophyta: Pottiaceae). It is based on several premises including the categorization fo Tortula angustata as isolectoypes, the combination of this name with various generic names, and the acceptance of this name in the bryological literature. The result of a study on the type mateiral of Syrrhopodan crispus is cited.

Presents a proposal to conserve the name Pseudocrossidium revolutum. Origin of the name; Credibility and appropriateness of the proposed new name; Basis for the contention; Implications of the new name on the botanical references of plant classification.

Presents a proposal to conserve the name Tortula solmsii against Tortula limbata (Pottiaceae, Bryophyta). Characteristics of Tortula solmsii; Acceptance on the name of the species in Europe; Use of the species in bryological literature.

Focuses on the lectotypification of Pleuridium sullivani (Ditrichaceae) and Tetrapterum sullivanii (Potticeae). Designation of lectotypes for Phascum sullivanii and Astomum sullivanii; Protologue of P. sullivanii.

The article focuses on the proposal of conserving the scientific name Globulina boliviana (Bryoerythrophyllum bolivianum) over Trichostomum brunneum from Bryophyta phylum and family Pottiaceae. Topics discussed include less use of Trichostomum brunneum name of bolivianum, taxonomic revision of the genus Bryoerythrophyllum, and acceptance of the present proposal would preserve nomenclatural stability of the plant.