Reappraisal of Gymnocolea and description of a new genus Rudolgaea (Anastrophyllaceae, Marchantiophyta)

Abstract

A review of the taxonomic composition of the genus Gymnocolea is provided. Among 15 species attributed to Gymnocolea, only 3 species are recognized within the genus. Their morphological and molecular analyses by rbc L, trn L-F cpDNA and ITS1-2 nrDNA sequences resulted in the transfer of G. borealis and G. fascinifera in a new genus Rudolgaea named after Rudolf M. Schuster and Olga M. Schuster. Thus, Gymnocolea appears to be the monospecific genus with only G. inflata .