Cheilolejeunea sicilicula S. Fish & Glenny (Lejeuneaceae, Marchantiopsida), a newly described species from lowland forests of South Island, New Zealand

Abstract

ABSTRACT Cheilolejeunea sicilicula S. Fish & Glenny, a new species of liverwort from lowland indigenous forest reserves in Westland and Western Nelson provinces in South Island, New Zealand, is described and illustrated. In New Zealand it is superficially similar to C. campbelliensis (Steph.) R. M. Schust., C. novaezelandiae R. M. Schust. and C. albovirens (Hook.f. & Taylor) E. A. Hodgs, which are all small-leaved species with leaves that range from 195 to 500 µm long. Cheilolejeunea sicilicula differs from these species in having a curved second tooth, and in having elongated cells along the antical free margin of the lobule. Molecular phylogenetic analyses resolve C. sicilicula as a member of the tropical section Cyrtolejeunea which has five extant species and a Miocene fossil species. This section was previously unknown in New Zealand. The addition of Cheilolejeunea sicilicula to the New Zealand flora brings the number of accepted New Zealand Cheilolejeunea species to 12, six of which are endemic.