Search

Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus is reported to be widespread in the South Island of New Zealand and the western region of Tasmania. The habitat is in areas of human activity which supports its status as an adventive species, probably as a result of anthropogenic action. Although both female and male plants have been detected in some populations, there is no evidence of sporophytes and spread is through asexual fragmentation.

The regional taxa of Sematophyllaceae have been reviewed in preparation for a florisitic treatment of the New Zealand mosses. A new species from Fiordland and Stewart Island is described as Sematophyllum fiordensis sp. nov. and Sematophyllum kirkii (Beckett) Paris, a species neglected in New Zealand for over 80 years, is resurrected. It is distributed on several of New Zealand's southern offshore islands, with The Snares as its type locality. Finally, a distinctive form of Wijkia extenuata (Brid.) H.A. Crum, with abundant microphyllous branches, weakly differentiated stem and branch leaves, irregular or subpinnate (not bipinnate) branching, nearly entire branch leaf margins, and a lack of laminal cell pores is described as a variety from the Raukoōkore River in the Bay of Plenty Region. Wijkia extenuata var. caudata, var. nov. is widespread in the North Island, and from the Nelson area of the South Island. It appears to be the only variety of W. extenuata on the Kermadec Islands. Illustrations an...

The threat status of New Zealand's bryophytes (currently 13 hornwort species, 608 liverwort species and 520 moss species) has been re-evaluated, using revised New Zealand Threat Classification System criteria. Threatened or uncommon status has been applied to 269 taxa (c. 24% of the total number of species) and to 25 entities that are either described but disputed or are undescribed. No taxa are known to be extinct. Forty-one taxa are listed as Threatened (26 Nationally Critical, 9 Nationally Endangered and 6 Nationally Vulnerable). One hundred and thirty-six taxa and entities are listed as At Risk, including 122 Naturally Uncommon, 2 Relict and 1 Declining, 8 Non-resident Native, and 3 Introduced and Naturalized. One hundred and thirty-five taxa and entities are Data Deficient.

The aquatic moss Hypnobartlettia fontana Ochyra was described, and placed in its own family, the Hypnobartlettiaceae, based on material collected at Te Waikoropupuu (“Pupu Springs”), Takaka, Nelson, New Zealand. It is known only from the type locality. Based on morphological evidence, we conclude Hypnobartlettia fontana is an environmentally induced form of the very variable Cratoneuropsis relaxa (Hook.f. & Wilson) Broth, modified in its morphology by the unusual physical features of its habitat in Pupu Springs. Data from published molecular studies relevant to this conclusion, and which do not support it, are equivocal and confounded by incorrectly identified material.

The taxonomy of and relationships between the three taxa described in the genus Pleurophascum are reconsidered. P. grandiglobum is confirmed as a Tasmanian endemic. The New Zealand taxon, heretofore known as P. grandiglobum var. decurrens, differs from the Tasmanian species by numerous morphological characters, including capsule shape, size, and pigmentation; leaf shape; and degree of reflexion of the leaf margins. The New Zealand taxon is given specific status as P. ovalifolium stat. et nom. nov. Both P. grandiglobum and P. ovalifolium have laterally borne sex organs that are not subtended by innovations. Recently discovered fruiting material of the Western Australian endemic P. occidentale differs from both P. grandiglobum and P. ovalifolium by having terminal sex organs, short (c. 1 mm) setae, and nearly sessile, obovoid, and non-rostrate capsules that lack stomata. Distribution maps and a key to the species are provided. The larger relationships of the genus Pleurophascum cannot yet be resolved. © The Royal Society of New Zealand 2005.

A synopsis of the New Zealand representatives of Schistidium is presented, treating S. apocarpum, S. rivulare var. rivulare, and S. rivulare var. subflexifolium stat. et comb. nov. The var. subflexifolium is based upon Grimmia subflexifolium Mull. Hal., an alpine and apparently endemic taxon which has been ignored since its description in 1898. The distribution, ecology, and affinities of Racomitrium curiosissimum, a recently described but little documented South I. endemic, are outlined.

The species of Conostomum (Musci: Bartramiaceae) occurring in New Zealand are reviewed, based primarily on herbarium collections. Three species and one new variety are accepted: Conostomum curvirostrum, C. pentastichum, C. pusillum var. pusillum, and C. pusillum var. otagoensis var. nov. The last is known from four populations in eastern Otago and is separated from the type variety by its lack of a peristome and smaller stature. Conostomum giganteum E.B.Bartram & Dixon is placed in synonymy with C. pentastichum. Type material for all relevant names is cited. The holotype of Conostomum pusillum Hook.f. & Wils. is documented. Ecological and distributional notes are provided for all taxa.

A list of mosses, comprising 52 species from 23 families, is provided for the Kermadec Islands, northern New Zealand. Cyclodictyon blumeanum is recorded new to New Zealand. Hypnum trachypelma is placed in synonymy with Eurhynchium speciosum, and lectotypes are designated for the names Hypnum trachypelma and Neckera kermadecensis. The moss flora of the Kermadec Islands contributes a significant subtropical element to the New Zealand mainland flora.

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. Mull., 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 Zeala...

A new species of moss, Didymodon novae-zelandiae, is described and illustrated. A key is provided to the six New Zealand species of genus Didymodon, together with the single New Zealand species of the related genus Gymnostomum. The key distinguishing features of D. novae-zelandiae are its gymnostomous capsule with a mammillate operculum, and its diminutive size. This study is a contribution to the preparation of the eFlora of New Zealand, Mosses.

Epipterygium opararense Fife & Shaw, sp. nov. is described and illustrated, based on material from the Oparara River valley in the Nelson Land District of the South Island, New Zealand. The genus Epipterygium is predominantly tropical in distribution, with a centre of diversity in tropical America, and has not previously been recorded in Australasia. The new species is unusual within Epipterygium for having ½ phyllotaxy, which we consider to be an apomorphic condition in the genus.

Braehythecium fontanum Fife, sp. novo is described and illustrated, based on material from mountainous areas of the South Island. New Zealand material referrable to the new species has formerly been ascribed to B. subplicatum. Notes are provided on the distribution of authentic B. subplicatum. The differences between the two taxa and the ecology, distribution, and probable affinities of the new species are discussed.

ALLAN J. FIFE, DAVID GLENNY, JESSICA E. BEEVER, JOHN E. BRAGGINS, PATRICK J. BROWNSEY, MATTHEW A.M. RENNER & ROD HITCHMOUGH Landcare Research, PO Box 40, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand; email: fifea@landcareresearch.co.nz Landcare Research, Private Bag 92170, Auckland 1142, New Zealand Herbarium, The Auckland War Memorial Museum, Private Bag 92018, Auckland 1142, New Zealand Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, PO Box 467, Wellington 6140, New Zealand Ecosystems and Species Unit, PO Box 10420, Department of Conservation, Wellington 6143, New Zealand

Tayloria maidenii Broth. is known only from the type locality in eastern Australia. Examination of the type material reveals that this taxon belongs neither in the genus Tayloria nor in the Splachnaceae. Type material of Tayloria maidenii is referable to Entosthodon laxus (Hook. f. & Wilson) Mitt. (Funariaceae). A lectotype for Tayloria maidenii Broth. is designated.

Pohlia australis, a new gemmiferous species, is described from the South Island, New Zealand. A key is provided to distinguish the three New Zealand species of Pohlia bearing axillary gemmae (P. australis, P. camptotrachela, and P. ochii). Pohlia tenuifolia, formerly thought to be endemic to Australasia, is reported from two localities in South America (Chile and Brazil).

Nine species and one genus (Eccremidium) of mosses are reported for the first time from New Zealand. Racomitrium crumianum Fife, sp. nov. is described. For an additional eleven species an extension of range, within New Zealand, is reported. The genus Scouleria is deleted from the New Zealand flora.

Although New Zealand's diverse bry-ophyte flora has attracted the attention of collectors and botanical authors since 1791 our knowledge of the bryoflora lags considerably behind that of the vascular flora. The historical development of both New Zealand muscology and hepaticology is reviewed. In muscology, the contributions of W. Wilson, J. D. Hooker, R. Brown ter., T. W. N. Beckett, H. N. Dixon, and G. O. K. Sainsbury are critically discussed. Whereas Sainsbury's Handbook provides a firm foundation for the modern study of New Zealand mosses, only about 20 per cent of the flora has received adequate monographic study. In hepaticology, prior to 1960, the efforts of W. Mitten, W. Colenso, and E. A. Hodgson are the most historically significant. Since 1960, several overseas workers (especially Engel, Grolle, Inoue, and Schuster) have made major contributions to the knowledge of New Zealand hepatics, largely by publication of monographs and regional discussions, while the bibliographic efforts of B. ...

Entosthodon steerei Fife, sp. nov., from the Ecuadorian Andes is characterized by an inclined, obovoid capsule with a nearly transverse mouth and a weakly differentiated neck, a unique spore ornamentation pattern, and strongly bordered leaves. Its affinities lie with species traditionally placed in the Plagiodus group of Funaria sensu Brotherus. While examining specimens of Funariaceae col- lected by W. C. Steere in the Ecuadorian Andes, I discovered an undescribed species of Entosthodon. This species has affinities with the species of En- tosthodon placed by Brotherus (1924) in Funaria sect. Plagiodus Mitt. Mitten's section Plagiodus de- serves subgeneric rank within a broadly defined ge- nus Entosthodon (Fife 1982). The Plagiodus group is characterized by usually unbordered leaves, asymmetric, inclined capsules with oblique mouths, double peristomes with sigmoid, apically free teeth, and usually baculate-insulate or insulate spores.

The genera Costesia Ther. and Neosharpiella Robins. & Delg. are- transferred from the Funariaceae to the Gigaspermaceae. Neosharpiella turgida (Mitt.) Robins. & Delg. is reported for the first time from Chile. The morphology of the six genera currently placed in the Gigaspermaceae is compared and generic inter-relationships discussed. SEM micrographs of the spores of four genera are given. In the revised sense presented, the Gigaspermaceae have a widely scattered, predominantly Southern Hemispheric distribution. Nomenclatural notes on several taxa are appended and several lectotypes are proposed. In the course of revisionary study on the Funariaceae, I have had occasion to examine material of the Central and South American genus Neosharpiella Robins. & Delg. and the South American genus Costesia Ther., as well as type material of most of the species currently placed in the Gigaspermaceae. This paper presents evidence that Neosharpiella and Costesia are improperly placed within the Funariaceae and that they are better placed in the Gigaspermaceae sensu Brotherus. The Funariaceae and the Gigaspermaceae were both placed in the Funariales by Broth- erus (1924). The Funariaceae may be characterized by the following set of characters: 1. annual or biennial habit; 2. erect, little-branched stems (very rarely prostrate and more or less rhizomatous); 3. leaf cells thin-walled and without thickened corners; 4. costae well developed, very rarely absent; 5. usually autoicous sexual condition; 6. perigonial pa- raphyses with globose terminal cells; 7. capsules various, with stomata enclosed by a single guard cell and a slit-like pore; and 8. spores relatively large, though usually less than 50 gm in diameter. The Gigaspermaceae, on the other hand, may be characterized by: 1. apparently perennial habit; 2. prostrate, rhizomatous stems giving rise to erect branches; 3. leaf cells thin- or firm-walled, often undulate in outline and usually with thickened corners; 4. costae variously developed; 5. usually synoicous or paroicous sexual condition; 6. perigonial paraphyses filiform, without inflated terminal cells; 7. capsules gymnostomous, with stomata enclosed by two guard cells (rarely imperfectly formed); and 8. spores large, usually in excess of 50 gm diam. Collectively, Costesia and Neosharpiella are known from South America and Mexico where they grow as "weeds" on soil. Although appearing acrocarpous, the plants exhibit an unusual growth habit similar to that of the unrelated genus Drummondia and to which neither the term acrocarpous nor pleurocarpous can be applied without qualification. They proliferate by fragile, nearly hyaline rhizomes that give rise to the more visible erect branches. The apices of the leafy shoots give rise to sporophytes with exserted, broadly obovoid capsules resembling those of some Physcomitrium species, but which have a characteristic strongly wrinkled appearance when dry. Costesia was described by Theriot (1917) on the basis of two Chilean specimens col- lected by N. Costes in 1915. To my knowledge, the sole representative of the genus, C. 007-2745/80/466--476$1.35/0

Cygnicollum immersum Fife & Magill, gen. & sp. nov., is described and illustrated. The ecology of the new taxon and its relationship within Funari- aceae are also discussed. The dominant trend in the evolution of the Funariaceae has been the progressive re- duction of the sporophyte, perhaps in adaptation to seasonally disturbed habitats that are available for short periods of time year after year and therefore preclude the necessity of elaborate spore dispersal mechanisms. Several of the more reduced members of this family belong to monotypic or small genera, usually of restricted geographic distribution. Ex- amples include species of Aphanorhegma, Physcomitrella and Goniomitrium that usually inhabit banks of periodically flooding streams or crevices in labile rock outcrops. Recently, R. E. Magill and E. A. Schelpe, collecting in the northwestern Cape region of South Africa, discovered a highly reduced member of the Funariaceae with cygneous, cleistocarpous capsules unlike anything previously known in the family. This note de- scribes this interesting plant and discusses its probable affinities.

The nomenclatural history ofEntosthodon laxus (Wils. & Hook. f) Mitt., described from Kerguelen, is traced. The phytogeographic affinities of this circum-subantarctic-Andean species have been obscured by its repeated description from various portions of its range, which is now shown to include New Zealand, mainlandAustralia, Tasmania, Macquarie, Kerguelen, Crozet, and Marion Islands, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and Venezuela. Seven heterotypic names, published in Entosthodon, Funaria, and Meesia, are placed in synonymy with E. laxus. Features which distinguish E. laxus from E. gracilis (in Australasia) and E. obtusifolius (in South America) are detailed. The names E. acutifolius Hampe ex C. Muell., E. longisetus Schimp. in Besch., and E. longicollis Mitt. are placed in synonymy with E. obtusifolius Hook. f in Hook.