Aerobryum brevicuspis S.He (Brachytheciaceae), a new species from northern Vietnam

Abstract

A new species of Aerobryum Dozy & Molk. (Brachytheciaceae), A. brevicuspis S.He from Lao Cai Province, northern Vietnam is described and illustrated. The new species resembles epiphytic A. speciosum Dozy & Molk. in the presence of pendent, sparsely branched stems, similar shape of leaves and areolation, but differs by its apiculate to cuspidate leaf apices, a single, faint or sometimes double costae in branch leaves, rather differentiated alar cells, the presence of a central strand in the stems, and numerous clustered axillary hairs that are often 5-8(-10) cells long.

Keywords:

• Aerobryum
• Lao Cai
• Meteoriaceae
• Moss
• Southeast Asia
• Taxonomy

Acknowledgements

We want to thank Dr Doan Doan Ai of Biduop Nui Ba National Park, Dr Huynh Van Keo of Bach Ma National Park, Mr Nguyen Manh Cuong of Cuc Phuong National Park, Mr Dang Van Lieu of Pu Mat National Park, and Nguyen Quang Hieu of the Center for Plant Conservation, Vietnam for their kind help during our field work. We are grateful to two anonymous reviewers and Dr Sanna Huttunen for their invaluable comments which have greatly improved the manuscript. This research was supported by the National Geographic Society Grants (NGS 8491-08, NGS 8723-09).

Taxonomic Additions and Changes: Aerobryum brevicuspis S.He, sp. nov.