Vrolijkheidia circumscissa (Pottiaceae), a new moss genus and species from the Succulent Karoo of South Africa

Abstract

We describe Vrolijkheidia circumscissa as a new genus and species of Pottiaceae currently known only from the Worcester-Robertson centre in the succulent karoo biome of the Cape Floristic Region. The gametophyte of the new genus is distinguished by the combination of small plants with strap-shaped, bordered leaves red in KOH in which the costa has a single round to semicircular stereid band, the hydroid strand absent, and the adaxial epidermis differentiated. The cleistocarpic capsules with exothecial cells in only one layer and arranged in palisade bands, with circumscisile dehiscence along one or more lines, and no stomates are also unique.

Keywords:

• CIRCUMSCISILE DEHISCENCE
• EPHEMERAL MOSS
• WORCESTER-ROBERTSON KAROO
• CAPE FLORA