A TAXONOMIC REVISION OF THE THUIDIACEAE (MUSCI) OF TROPICAL ASIA, THE WESTERN PACIFIC, AND HAWAII

Abstract

  Seven genera of Thuidiaceae are recognized in tropical Asia and the western Pacific: Thuidium Schimp. (6 sp.), Thuidiopsis (Broth.) M.Fleisch. (2 sp.), Pelekium Mitt. (syn. Cyrto-hypnum (Hampe) Hampe & Lor., 12 sp.) and the monotypic genera Aequatoriella Touw, Bryochenea C.Gao & K.C.Chuang, Indothuidium Touw, and Orthothuidium D.H.Norris & T.J.Kop. Inouethuidium R. Watanabe is excluded. Keys are provided to the genera and species found in the study area. The species are revised, described, and illustrated, and their variability, distribution (illustrated by dot maps), ecology, nomenclature, and typification are discussed. The largest number of species is shared with Africa (6), followed by the adjacent, more temperate part of the Northern hemisphere (3), and Australasia (2). Among the remaining species three are mainly Himalayan epiphytes, four are Malesian tropical lowland rainforest species, and three are endemics from New Guinea (2) or the Society Islands (1). Indothuidium kiasense (R.S.Williams) Touw is confined to areas with a pronounced seasonal climate. The two species known from Hawaii (Thuidium cymbifolium (Dozy & Molk.) Dozy & Molk. and Pelekium versicolor) are among those widespread throughout the study area. Several names in common use for Thuidiaceae from Asia, Africa, or the temperate part of the Northern hemisphere are reduced to synonyms. Thus, Northern hemisphere Thuidium philibertii Limpr. and African T. matarumense Besch. are reduced to synonyms of Himalayan T. assimile (Mitt.) Jaeg., Asian T. tamariscellum (Müll.Hal.) Mitt. and T. sparsifolium (Mitt.) Jaeg. become synonyms of African Pelekium versicolor (Müll.Hal.) Jaeg., and Asian Thuidium kuripanum (Dozy & Molk.) R.Watanabe and T. trachypodum (Mitt.) Bosch & Sande Lac. become synonyms of African Pelekium gratum (P.Beauv.) Jaeg.