A new species of moss emerges from molecular and morphological data: Schistidium memnonium sp. nov. (Grimmiaceae, Bryophyta)

Abstract

Schistidium memnonium is described as a new species from Europe, based on molecular and morphological data. The species is described and illustrated, its affinities are discussed, and its current distribution mapped. The species is distinguished by its ovate to ovate-triangular leaves, unistratose lamina in lower part, occasionally with 2-stratose spots or short striae, in central and upper part varying from 1-stratose to 2-stratose in spots and striae, recurved leaf margins from the base to near the apex on both sides, in lower part mostly 1-2˗stratose for 1(2) rows, in upper and central part 2-3˗stratose for 1–2 rows and oblong to long rectangular or long obovate exothecial cells in central part. A table with characters to distinguish this species from S. brunnescens (both subspecies), two taxa morphologically very similar, and a phylogenetic analysis in order to detect relationships of the new species with nearby taxa, based on rDNA ITS region, are provided.

Keywords:

• Bryophyte
• Europe
• Germany
• Greece
• ITS
• phylogeny
• Spain
• taxonomy

Acknowledgements

We thank the curators of the herbaria GDAC, MGC and MA for sending the samples, Michael Lüth, Thomas Kiebacher and Heribert Köckinger for providing specimens for our study and Hans H. Blom for his help in the determination of some samples. Also, we thank Terry McIntosh for editing our English grammar.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.