Range extension, taxonomic note, molecular-phylogenetic relationship, and conservation of Frullania iriomotensis S.Hatt. (Marchantiophyta, Frullaniaceae), a rare liverwort previously known only from the type locality in Japan

Abstract

Frullania iriomotensis (Frullaniaceae), a rare liverwort previously known only from the type locality in Japan, was newly discovered in a rainforest in southern China. The first phylogenetic analyses based on the nuclear ribosomal ITS region and two chloroplast regions (rbcL, trnL–F) of F. iriomotensis reveal that it is sister to the tropical Asian F. repandistipula in the Diastaloba II group of F. subg. Diastaloba. Androecia and gynoecia are described and illustrated for the first time for this species and a proposal for conservation is presented.