Homaliodendron pulchrum, a new species of Neckeraceae from China and its phylogenetic position based on molecular data

Abstract

A new moss species, Homaliodendron pulchrum, from China, is delimited by its distinct morphology and biogeography. The new species has oblong–spathulate to obovate leaves and an indistinct double costa, which is unique within the genus. Distribution of this new species is restricted to three localities in southwestern and southern China. The new species is described and illustrated and a key to the species of Homaliodendron in Eastern Asia is provided. The systematic position of H. pulchrum is revealed to be sister to H. montagneanum by molecular evidence based on the parsimony and maximum likelihood analyses of nad5 and rps4 sequences.

Keywords:

• Homaliodendron
• Molecular phylogeny
• Neckeraceae
• Taxonomy

We are grateful to Professors Peng-Cheng Wu and Johannes Enroth for valuable comments on the manuscript. We thank one anonymous reviewer for revising the Latin diagnosis. This study was supported by grants from the Project for the Preponderant Disciplines Innovation Platform for Beijing Forestry University and Special Research Program for Public-welfare Forestry (grant no. 200804001). The illustration was drawn by Mu-Sen Guo.

Taxonomic Additions and Changes: Homaliodendron pulchrum L.Y.Pei & Y.Jia, sp. nov.