Chenia leptophylla(C. Muell.) Zand. (Family Pottiaceae), a Generic and Species Record New to Moss Flora of Taiwan

Abstract

Chenia leptophylla (C. Muell.) Zand. is reported here as a new generic and species record to the moss flora of Taiwan. In addition to two strictly distributed species in the Andes, i.e., C. lorentzii (C. Muell.) Zand. and C. suboblinqua (Williams) Zand., C leptophylla is the third taxon of this genus with cosmopolitan distribution. Chenia is distinguished easily from Tortula species and characterized by lingulate leaves with somewhat apiculate apex, crenulate leaf margins, and smooth laminal cells. C leptophylla is closely related to C. lorentzii in sharing common stem structure without differentiated central strands, a character that distinguishes them from C. suboblinqua. C. leptophylla is then diagnosable from C. lorentzii by its acute leaf-apex and rhizoid tubers. Pottia truncate (Hedw.) B.S.G., another pottiaceous mosses with epapillose laminal cells, also shares many gametophytic similarities with C. leptophylla except for its differentiated central strand in stem, ventral stereids in costa and excurrent costa.