Zygodon Hook. & Taylor and Bryomaltaea Goffinet (Bryopsida: Orthotrichaceae) in the Sino-Himalaya

Abstract

A taxonomic revision is provided of Orthotrichaceae subfamily Orthotrichoideae tribe Zygodonteae in the Himalayan region and western China (Yunnan and Sichuan Provinces), comprising two genera Zygodon Hook. & Taylor and Bryomaltaea Goffinet, until recently included in Zygodon. New observations are reported on some important characters, particularly ornamentation of leaf cuticle, gemmae and twisting of the seta. Five species of Zygodon are confirmed from the study area: Z. intermedius Bruch & Schimp., Z. brevisetus Wilson ex Mitt., Z. rupestris Schimp. ex. Lorentz, Z. yunnanensis Malta and Z. reinwardtii (Hornsch.) A. Braun; the genus Bryomaltaea is maintained and contains one species, B. obtusifolia (Hook.) Goffinet. Keys and descriptions are provided to genera and species, and for each species an illustration is given, as well as relevant synonymy, typification, ecological notes and geographical distribution. The following regional geographical totals and new records for Zygodon are reported: Nepal, three species (Z. rupestris new); India (Sikkim) three species (Z. intermedius new); Bhutan, five species (Z. intermedius, Z. reinwardtii and Z. rupestris new); China, Yunnan, six species (Z. intermedius and Z. rupestris new) and Sichuan, one species. Bryomaltaea is reported from Nepal, the Indian States of Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh (new), Bhutan and western China (Yunnan). Zygodon viridissimus (Dicks.) Brid. was not confirmed from the study area. Taxonomic notes, particularly on the status of Bryomaltaea and its relationship to Leratia Broth. & Paris, are presented, and clarification of the ambiguous usage in bryological literature of the terms dextrorse and sinistrorse (as applied to twisting of the seta) is given. Finally, some observations on ecology, phenology and phytogeography of the Sino-Himalayan species are given.