Lectotypification of Weissia radians Hedw., a neglected name for a widespread Australasian moss species, with notes on the status of Funaria glabra Tayl. and the typification of some other Hedwigian names

Abstract

Weissia radians Hedwig is one of twelve names for Australasian mosses published in Hedwig's Species Muscorum Frondosorum in 1801. While ten of the Hedwigian names (in their modern combinations) are used in twentieth-century Australasian floras, Weissia radians has fallen into obscurity. Although no type specimen exists in the Hedwigian herbarium (G), a Joseph Banks collection from New Zealand is present in the Dawson Turner herbarium (BM). I believe the Banks material to be a portion of the original collection and here propose it as the lectotype of W. radians. A combination based upon this basionym, Entosthodon radians (Hedw.) C. Müll., is the most appropriate name for this widespread Australasian species, which recent Australasian workers have misnamed as Funaria glabra Tayl. The type of F. glabra Tayl., collected by James Drummond at Swan River in Western Australia, is referable to Entosthodon muehlenbergii (Turn.) Fife, a species widely distributed worldwide but rare in Australia and New Zealand. Synonymy is provided for these two species and their Australasian distributions are summarized. A lectotype is designated for Entosthodon claviformis C. Müll. & Hampe, a name that has been placed incorrectly in synonymy with Funaria glabra Tayl., but which is here referred to Entosthodon apophysatus (Tayl.) Mitt. Evidence is presented that past selections of lectotypes for other Australasian Hedwigian names may have been inappropriate.