New insight into the taxonomy of Cephaloziellaceae (Marchantiophyta): the family of the smallest higher plants on Earth

An analysis of the phylogeny of Cephaloziellaceae was carried out based on trees constructed for previously and newly obtained sequences of five genes: nuclear ITS1-2 and chloroplast trnL-F, trnG, rbcL, and psbA. Phylogenetic trees inferred from different genes are congruent for the main details; however, the position of several taxa is variable. As a result, a new phylogenetic system of the family was proposed. The narrow genus concept seems to be more appropriate for the family. Cephaloziella spinicaulis is segregated into the new genus Douiniella, the generic status for Prionolobus and Metacephalozia is confirmed, and the dubious generic status of Kymatocalyx is substantiated. The generic independence of Cylindrocolea from Cephaloziella s. str. is confirmed. The small amount of data hinders the description of two more genera from Cephaloziella s.l.

The Position of Lophozia dubia (Lophoziaceae, Marchantiophyta) in the Phylogenetic System of Lophozia and the Distribution of Lophozia in Southeast Eurasia, Extending to Indonesia

Lophozia pallida, the commonly used name for a rare and little-known Sino-Himalayan species, was found to be a synonym of Lophozia dubia, a forgotten and previously misinterpreted species known in Indonesia. A comparative study of herbarium materials and our collections made it possible to 'extend' the distribution of Lophozia s. str. southward to Indonesia. The description of oil bodies from the species is provided for the first time. The position of the species in the Lophozia phylogenetic system demonstrates its clear differences from the morphologically similar Lophozia guttulata and its phylogenetic relationship with the Japanese-Korean Lophozia koreana.

Konstantinovia Is Not Monotypic, and a New Attempt to Determine Relationships in Cephaloziellaceae-Scapaniaceae Superclade (Marchantiophyta)

The exploration of liverworts on Bering Island (the westernmost Aleutians) has revealed plants assigned to the recently described and previously monotypic Konstantinovia, previously known only from Yunnan Province of China, and belonging to the bigeneric Obtusifoliaceae. The collected plants are described here as Konstantinovia beringii sp. nov. The known localities of two species of Konstantinovia are separated by more than 6000 km, while the presence of the genus on the Commander Islands is probably a relict. Phylogenetic examination of both collected specimens and new material from other related families resulted in the construction of a fairly well-supported phylogenetic tree for the entire Cephaloziellaceae s.l. + Scapaniaceae s.l. clade. The constructed trees have confirmed the previously stated assumption that it is necessary to segregate one more family within this superclade, described here as Oleolophoziaceae fam. nov.

Marsupellabrasiliensis sp. nov. (Gymnomitriaceae, Marchantiophyta) from Brazil - the distribution of sect. Stolonicaulon in Neotropics is now confirmed

The specimen previously identified as Marsupellamicrophylla from Brazil is reassessed and described as a new species, M.brasiliensis. The new species is characterized by paroicous inflorescence, bispiral elaters, scale-like, commonly unlobed leaves and very small leaf cells. Descriptions and drawings are provided along with a corresponding discussion of the morphological peculiarity of the new species. Marsupellabrasiliensis belongs to sect. Stolonicaulon, and the distribution of Marsupellasect.Stolonicaulon in the New World is confirmed. The infrageneric position of M.microphylla remains unresolved, and whether it belongs to the same section is still unclear.

The systematic position of puzzling Sino-Himalayan Lophocoleasikkimensis (Lophocoleaceae, Marchantiophyta) is identified

Lophocoleasikkimensis, a little-known Sino-Himalayan species, was collected in North Vietnam and its taxonomic position was identified by molecular genetic techniques. The species is characterized by generally narrowly pointed leaves, which are not seen in other representatives of Lophocoleaceae. We found that it belongs to the recently described genus Cryptolophocolea, although it is clearly morphologically dissimilar to other members of the genus. We propose a corresponding nomenclature combination: Cryptolophocoleasikkimensis comb. nov. This species is the only one in its genus with a predominantly Sino-Himalayan distribution; the vast majority of congeners are distributed in the Southern Hemisphere (mostly in Australasia). Reports of this species in Vietnam further confirm the close phytogeographic relationships of the flora of northern Indochina with those of the Sino-Himalayas and suggest that this species is found in other parts of the Hoang Lien Range and the southern Hengduan Range.

Calypogeia (Calypogeiaceae, Marchantiophyta) in Pacific Asia: Updates from Molecular Revision with Particular Attention to the Genus in North Indochina

Calypogeia is a genus in Pacific Asia that is difficult to classify taxonomically. These difficulties arise from (1) considering the presence of oil bodies as anatomical characters for taxonomic differentiation, (2) the wide occurrence of sibling, semicryptic and geographical vicariant taxa and (3) the inevitable need to organize new datasets for molecular genetic revision of the genus. The present study uses an integrative approach, including molecular genetic, morphological, chorological and ecological methods, to understand the taxonomy of the genus in Amphi-Pacific Asia. As a result, a set of new-to-science taxa was revealed, and the suite of morphological features necessary for reliable discrimination of the taxa was revised. These results are based on the study of a large set of ‘fresh’ collections suitable for molecular analysis and morphological comparison and include data on oil bodies. The most basal branch in Calypogeia s.l. is segregated into a new genus, Asperifolia. Descriptions of the new taxa and the key to Calypogeia in Vietnam are provided.

Overview of Schistochilopsis (Hepaticae) in Pacific Asia with the Description Protochilopsis gen. nov

The taxonomic diversity center of Schistochilopsis is in East Asia, where the genus also shows the highest genetic diversity and morphological plasticity. The integrative survey of Schistochilopsis in East Asia was the main goal of the present account. Plant materials were obtained from recent collections made by authors in various parts of amphi-Pacific Asia; several types of specimens were also studied. The study includes phylogenetic reconstructions from nuclear ITS1,2, chloroplast trnL and trnG sequences, and anatomo-morphological, biogeographical, and taxonomical analyses. As a result, it was concluded that S. obscura should be transferred to Lophozia s. str. and S. grandiretis to the newly described genus Protochilopsis. Lophozia boliviensis was found to be part of the Andean-Sino-Himalayan taxon belonging to Schistochilopsis. The species status of S. hyperarctica and S. opacifolia was not confirmed. Substantial genetic variation is observed within S. incisa with possible cryptic sympatric distributed entities. The taxonomical section of the paper provides a discussion on the status, distinctive morphological traits, distribution, and ecology supplemented with the morphological description for poorly understood taxa. In the vast majority of cases, the illustrations and photographs made from the types and living material are provided.

Structure of Intergenic Spacer IGS1 of Ribosomal Operon from Schistidium Mosses

The structure of the intergenic spacer 1 (IGS1) of the ribosomal operon from 12 species of Schistidium mosses was studied. In the IGS1 sequences of these species, three conserved regions and two areas of GC- and A-enriched repeats were identified. All of the studied mosses have a conserved pyrimidine-enriched motif at the 5'-end of IGS1. Species-specific nucleotide substitutions and insertions were found in the conserved areas. The repeated units contain single nucleotide substitutions that make unique the majority of repeated units. The positions of such repeats in IGS1 are species-specific, but their number can vary within the species and among operons of the same specimen. The comparison of IGS1 sequences from the Schistidium species and from representatives of ten other moss genera revealed the presence of common conserved motifs with similar localization. Presumably, these motifs are elements of termination of the pre-rRNA transcription and processing of rRNA.

What is Atraphaxis L. (Polygonaceae, Polygoneae): cryptic taxa and resolved taxonomic complexity instead of the formal lumping and the lack of morphological synapomorphies

BACKGROUND

The recently proposed recircumscription of the genus Atraphaxis (incl. Atraphaxis section Ovczinnikovia O.V. Yurtseva ex. S. Tavakkoli and Polygonum sect. Spinescentia Boissier (=A. sect. Polygonoides S. Tavakkoli, Kaz. Osaloo & Mozaff.) makes this genus fairly heterogeneous and therefore almost undefinable based on morphology. A critical comprehensive reappraisal of the group is necessary.

METHODS

Using the DNA sequence data (ITS1&2 regions of nrDNA and combined trnL intron + trnL-F IGS and rpl32-trnL((UAG)) IGS regions of plastid genome), Maximum Likelihood (ML) and Bayesian analyses (BI) were applied for phylogenetic reconstructions of the tribe Polygoneae with special attention to Atraphaxis, and related taxa. Maximum parsimony reconstructions of the evolution of perianth morphology and sporoderm ornamentation in the tribe Polygoneae were also performed. Life history, morphology of shoots, leaf blades, ocreas, perianth and achene morphology, ultrasculpture of achene surface, and pollen morphology were compared, and SEM and LM images were provided.

PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

The genera Atraphaxis and Polygonum were found to be widely polyphyletic. The rarest and morphologically remarkable endemic of Tian-Shan and Pamir Atraphaxis ovczinnikovii (Atraphaxis sect. Ovczinnikovia O.V. Yurtseva ex. S. Tavakkoli) was confirmed to be a sister of the clade (Atraphaxis + Polygonum sect. Spinescentia) in plastid topology. The genus Bactria (=Atraphaxis sect. Ovczinnikovia), which circumscribes two species, is newly established as a result of this analyses. Morphological data confirm the originality of the taxon.

DISCUSSION

We are arguing for a narrow delimitation of Atraphaxis with petalloid segments and striato-perforate sporoderm ornamentation as morphological synapomorphies. The recently proposed inclusion of Polygonum sect. Spinescentia in Atraphaxis is fairly questionable from a morphological standpoint. The rank of Polygonum sect. Spinescentia requires further clarification. The generic composition of the tribe Polygoneae also requires future reappraisals.