On Frullania subpyricalycina Herzog (Frullaniaceae, Marchantiophyta)

Abstract

ABSTRACT Introduction. Frullania subpyricalycina, a little-known liverwort species endemic to central Chile, is described and illustrated based on newly collected specimens as well as undetermined and previously misdetermined herbarium specimens in MO. Methods. The specimens studied were compared morphologically with the type specimens of Frullania subpyricalycina to confirm their identity. Also, the molecular similarity of two newly collected specimens of F. subpyricalycina to other Frullania species was assessed, using newly obtained ITS1–2 nrDNA and trnL–F cpDNA sequence data. Key results. Molecular data revealed close affinities between Frullania subpyricalycina and Frullania subg. Chonanthelia. The high connectivity between the female bracts and bracteole, the 4-keeled perianth, and the autoicous sexuality in F. subpyricalycina are typical of the morphology of the latter subgenus. A lectotype was selected for F. subpyricalycina from the two duplicate type specimens in the describing author’s herbarium (JE). Conclusions. Molecular comparison and morphological study show that Frullania subpyricalycina represents a species of Frullania subg. Chonanthelia, which differs from the morphologically similar F. inflata Gottsche, F. pluricarinata Gottsche and F. pyricalycina Steph. by the shape of the leaves and underleaves, the exclusively explanate lobules, the reduced styli, the characteristics of the bracteole, and the number of perianth keels.