New Zealand Journal of Botany abstracts

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A reconsideration of Pleurophascum (Musci: Pleurophascaceae) and specific status for a New Zealand endemic, Pleurophascum ovalifolium stat. et nom. nov.

Allan J. Fife

Landcare Research
P.O. Box 69
Lincoln, New Zealand
fifea@landcareresearch.co.nz

Patrick J. Dalton

School of Plant Science
University of Tasmania
Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia

Abstract  The taxonomy of and relationships between the three taxa described in the genus Pleurophascum are reconsidered. P. grandiglobum is confirmed as a Tasmanian endemic. The New Zealand taxon, heretofore known as P. grandiglobum var. decurrens, differs from the Tasmanian species by numerous morphological characters, including capsule shape, size, and pigmentation; leaf shape; and degree of reflexion of the leaf margins. The New Zealand taxon is given specific status as P. ovalifolium stat. et nom. nov. Both P. grandiglobum and P. ovalifolium have laterally borne sex organs that are not subtended by innovations. Recently discovered fruiting material of the Western Australian endemic P. occidentale differs from both P. grandiglobum and P. ovalifolium by having terminal sex organs, short (c. 1 mm) setae, and nearly sessile, obovoid, and non-rostrate capsules that lack stomata. Distribution maps and a key to the species are provided. The larger relationships of the genus Pleurophascum cannot yet be resolved.

Keywords  Pleurophascum; P. ovalifolium; P. grandiglobum; P. grandiglobum var. decurrens; P. occidentale; taxonomy; moss; Australasian flora

B05018; Received 6 May 2005; accepted 12 August 2005; Online publication date 15 December 2005
New Zealand Journal of Botany, 2005, Vol. 43: 871–884
0028–825X/05/4304–0871 © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2005

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