Plagiothecium novae-seelandiae var. brotheri G.J.Wolski, 2024

Wolski, Grzegorz J., Latoszewski, Mikolaj, Cargill, D. Christine & Buck, William R., 2024, Re-assessment of type material of Plagiothecium novae-seelandiae Broth. and descriptions of four new Plagiothecium taxa (Bryophyta, Plagiotheciaceae) from Australasia, PhytoKeys 238, pp. 95-117 : 95

Plagiothecium novae-seelandiae var. brotheri G.J.Wolski var. nov.

Type.

Holotype: Mosses of Westland , New Zealand, on dripping rocks, Kelly's Creek , Kelly's Range , Plagiothecium Novae Seelandiae Broth., leg. T. W. Naylor Beckett 996, 3 Feb. 1903 (PC0132644p.p.!). Paratype : Mosses of Westland, New Zealand, damp rocks in scrub at top of Otira Gorge, 2830 ft, Plagiothecium Novae Seelandiae Broth., leg. T. W. Naylor Beckett 918, 11 Feb. 1903 (CHR534780p.p.!) .

Description.

Plants medium size, green, julaceus, with metallic luster; stems 3-4 cm, in cross-section rounded, 250-300 μm in diameter, the central strand well-developed; leaves symmetrical to almost symmetrical, imbricate, concave, ovate, slightly folded, leaves from middle of stem 1.7-2.4 mm long and width measured at widest point 0.9-1.0 mm; leaf margins recurved; the apex acuminate, not denticulate; costae two, rather thick and strong, extending usually to 1/3 of the leaf length; laminal cells more or less symmetrical, the length and width variable but dependent on location: 90-120 × 7.5-10 μm at apex, 100-140 × 7.5-10 μm at midleaf, and 100-125 × 10-12.5 μm toward insertion; due to relatively narrow, cell areolation quite tight; decurrency of 5-6 rows of rounded and inflated cells, forming distinct auricles, 200-250 μm long (Fig. 5 ); sporophytes so far unknown; sexual condition unknown.

Plagiothecium novae-seelandiae var. brotheri type material was recorded from New Zealand, Kelly’s Creek, Kelly’s Range (PC0132644p.p.!) and at top of Otira Gorge (CHR534780!), on dripping rocks (PC0132644p.p.!) and damp rocks in scrub (CHR534780!).

Etymology.

The present taxon is part of the P. novae-seelandiae collection from which Brotherus (1916) described a new species, therefore this taxon - P. novae-seelandiae var. brotheri - is named in honor of Brotherus.

Figures

Figure 5. Selected taxonomic features of Plagiothecium novae-seelandiae var. brotheri A shape and dimensions of leaf B dimensions and shape of cells from middle part of the leaf C stem cross-section D decurrency (from the type material of P. novae-seelandiae PC 0132644 p. p.!, photo. G. J. Wolski, November 22, 2021).