Macromitrium cavaleriei, a little known moss from China with four new synonyms (Musci: Orthotrichaceae).

Macromitrium cavaleriei Cardot & Thér. in Thér. is a little known Chinese moss of the family Orthotrichaceae. The species, which, forms dense mats with creeping stems, varies much in its branch leaf shape and in the laminal cell papillosity of the branch and perichaetial leaves. In the present paper, Macromitrium cavaleriei is re-evaluated taxonomically, including the new synonymizations of M. gebaueri Broth., M. sinense E. B. Bartram, M. syntrichophyllum Thér. & P. de la Varde, and M. syntrichophyllum var. longisetum Thér. & Reimers from China. The synonymizations extend the distribution of M. cavaleriei from Guizhou to 15 provinces and one municipality, mainly in the area to the South of the Yangtze River, Southwest China, and Taiwan. Additionally, M. cavaleriei is reported as new to the moss flora of Japan. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]