Abstract
The pleurocarpous moss genus Forsstroemia (Neckeraceae) that was taxonomically revised in 1987 on morphological grounds is now revisited using sequence data from two plastid regions (rps4-trnF and rpl16) and nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS1 and 2). The taxon sampling comprises 11 out of 13 species and a representative set of Neckeraceae and Lembophyllaceae taxa as outgroups. Forsstroemia japonica was placed next to Shevockia inunctocarpa in a clade only remotely related to Forsstroemia. Thus, F. japonica is transferred to Shevockia. Forsstroemia remotifolia is renamed as Leptodon remotifolius and Pseudopterobryum tenuicuspis as Forsstroemia tenuicuspis (syn. F. tripinnata). The nine species in Forsstroemia form a monophyletic group, six of the species being restricted to Asia, one (F. coronata) to South America, and two (F. producta and F. trichomitria) having a wider distribution. A previously suggested hybrid origin for F. coronata was not supported by the sequence data.
SO acknowledges the financial support from the Oskar Öflund Society. Lars Hedenäs is thanked for providing research material of Forsstroemia remotifolia. Support by the Finnish Academy and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) is greatly appreciated. Lab support was kindly provided by the German Science Foundation (Qu 153/3-1; Qu 153/3-2) and the Oskar Öflund Society. The authors are grateful to the comments of both reviewers and the associated editor Alain Vanderpoorten.