Acaulon chilense Larraín & M.J.Cano (Pottiaceae, Bryophyta), a new species from central Chile

ABSTRACT

Introduction

During exploration of the central Chilean bryophyte flora over the past 10 years, especially during the wet winter months, a species of Acaulon was collected that did not match any of the known species of the genus. Here, we present our arguments for recognising these plants as a new moss species.

Methods

The new taxon was compared morphologically with the species of Acaulon currently recognised. In addition, most of the type material of the taxa attributed to this genus was studied.

Key results and conclusions

Acaulon chilense is described and illustrated as a new moss species from Chile. It is characterised by its reddish coloration, papillose distal laminal cells, costa with homogeneous cells, strongly thickened dorsal cell walls, spores less than 30 μm in diameter, and rhizoautoicous sexuality. The morphological similarities with closely related species are discussed. A distribution map of the new species is provided. This taxon is relatively common, appearing during the wet winter months in the Mediterranean climate areas of the lowlands of central Chile.

KEYWORDS:

• Biodiversity
• conservation
• ephemeral bryophytes
• Mediterranean climate
• mosses
• taxonomy

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Inmaculada Guijarro for preparing the illustrations. We thank Nicolás Lavandero and Nicolás García for organising the collecting trips to Fundo Caracas and Cerro Imán, respectively; the landowners who allowed collecting in their properties; and curators of the herbaria mentioned in the text for providing access to their bryophyte collections.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was partly supported by Agencia Estatal de Investigación (AEI), Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, under grant number PID2019-103993GB-I00/AEI/10.13039/50110001103. Fieldwork between 2016 and 2018 was funded by FONDECYT through a postdoctoral grant (no. 3160556) to J.L.

Notes on contributors

Juan Larraín

Juan Larraín is a bryologist with a research focus on floristics, conservation, taxonomy and systematics of mosses and liverworts from southern South America. He holds a Ph.D. in Botany and currently works as a consultant bryologist in Chile.

María J. Cano

María J. Cano is a full professor of botany at the University of Murcia (Spain). She holds a Ph.D. in biological sciences. Her research topics include floristics, conservation, taxonomy and phylogeny of bryophytes. Her current research focus is the taxonomy and phylogeny of different genera of Pottiaceae in South America. In previous years, she has also been involved in the project ‘Flora Briofítica Ibérica’, both as an author and an editor of several volumes.