Syntrichia lamellaris M.T.Gallego, M.J.Cano & Larraín (Pottiaceae), a new moss species from Chilean Patagonia

ABSTRACT

Introduction. While revising material of South American Syntrichia for a worldwide revision of the genus, one specimen collected in Aysén (Chile) did not match the concept of any of the species known in the genus. Here we present our argument for recognising this moss as a new species and its differentiation from other closely related taxa.

Methods. About 3500 specimens from South America belonging to this genus were studied with the typical anatomical and morphological methods. In addition, most of the type material of the taxa attributed to this genus in the world has been studied. Photographic images of key features of the species were obtained for the preparation of illustrations for publication.

Results and conclusions. A new moss species, Syntrichia lamellaris M.T.Gallego, M.J.Cano & Larraín, is described and illustrated from Chilean Patagonia. The species is corticolous and distinguished morphologically by its stems with irregular hyalodermis, oblanceolate to obovate-lingulate leaves that are extremely fragile, with apices ending in a spinulose red mucro, plane and strongly sinuous to lacerated leaf margins, and dorsal costal surface without stereids in the upper third, but with irregularly lobed dorsal lamellae. Possible confusion with other closely related taxa is discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• Aysén
• bryophytes
• dorsal lamellae
• fragile leaves
• Musci
• taxonomy

Acknowledgements

JL acknowledges Anna Astorga and Brian Reid for the invitation to participate in the project ‘Southern Chilean streams in old growth temperate forests as a reference for watershed management: relative importance for maintaining biodiversity, ecosystem function and ecosystem services’ during which this new taxon was found.

Notes on contributors

M. Teresa Gallego is an Associate Professor of Botany at the University of Murcia (Spain). She obtained a Ph.D. in Biology at University of Murcia in 2002 and her research focuses on systematics, taxonomy and floristics of mosses, more specifically on Pottiaceae, with special interests on the genus Syntrichia Brid.

María J. Cano is a Full Professor of Botany at the University of Murcia (Spain). She holds a Ph.D. in Biology Sciences. Her research topics include floristic, conservation, taxonomy and phylogeny of bryophytes. Her current research interest is focused on the taxonomy and phylogeny of different genera of Pottiaceae in South America. In the last years, she has also been involved in the project ‘Flora Briofítica Ibérica’, both as an author and an editor of several volumes.

Juan Larraín is a bryologist with research focus in floristics, conservation, taxonomy and systematics of mosses and liverworts from southern South America.

Juan Guerra has been a Full Professor of Botany at the University of Murcia (Spain) since 1986. He has also been the director of the Bryological Research Group since then. Previously, he worked as an Associate Professor at the University of Málaga.

ORCID

M. Teresa Gallego http://orcid.org/0000-0002-6180-1624

María J. Cano http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1297-457X

Juan Larraín http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9423-6561

Juan Guerra https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5747-9823

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by the Spanish ‘Ministerio de Economía y competitividad’ (Proyect CGL2015/64068-P cofinanced by FEDER) and FONDECYT (no. 11140495).