Taxonomic notes on African Orthotrichaceae 4. New synonymy in Schlotheimia

Abstract

Introduction

New synonymy and distribution records for Schlotheimia Brid. in sub-Saharan Africa are presented.

Methods

Examination of herbarium type material has confirmed the identity of some poorly known Schlotheimia names. The application of correct names and typification has been carried out in accordance with the International Code of Nomenclature Shenzhen (2018) for algae, fungi, and plants.

Key results

Fifteen names are placed in synonymy, reducing the number of accepted taxa for Schlotheimia in sub-Saharan Africa to 33. Schlotheimia badiella var. longicaulis Besch., S. badiella var. helicophylla Besch., S. badiella var. brevifolia Renauld, S. illecebra Schimp. ex Besch., S. nossi-beana Müll.Hal. ex Besch., S. nossi-beana var. linealis (Müll.Hal.) Thér., S. foveolata Renauld & Cardot, S. foveolata var. torquescens Cardot, S. perrotii Renauld & Cardot, S. perrotii var. breviseta Thér. and S. poecilodictyon P.de la Varde & Thér. are all considered to be new synonyms of S. badiella Besch. Schlotheimia acutifolia Renauld & Paris, S. acutifolia var. angustifolia Thér., S. congolensis Cardot and S. fragilifolia Thér. & Naveau are reduced to synonymy with S. percuspidata Müll.Hal. Lectotypification is effected for 14 names within the genus. Schlotheimia percuspidata is reported here new to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Zambia, Réunion and Madagascar.

Conclusions

This work reduces the sub-Saharan African checklist for Schlotheimia to 29 species and 4 varieties, a number that is expected to be reduced even further once additional type material has been examined.

KEYWORDS:

• Africa
• Madagascar
• mosses
• Orthotrichaceae
• Schlotheimia
• synonymy
• taxonomy

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by The Natural History Museum, London (BM). Lionel Kervran and Catherine Reeb are thanked for hosting my visit to the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Paris (PC) in 2018. Dr Michelle Price and an anonymous reviewer are thanked for their detailed and constructive comments, which have greatly improved this article.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Joanna Wilbraham

Joanna Wilbraham is the Senior Curator of Algae at the Natural History Museum, London (BM). Her research interests are focused on the taxonomy, biodiversity and conservation of freshwater algae, seaweeds and bryophytes, with a long-standing research interest in the moss family Orthotrichaceae in tropical Africa and Indian Ocean islands.