A REVISION OF ANASTROPHYLLUM (SPRUCE) STEPH. (JUNGERMANNIALES, LOPHOZIACEAE) IN THE HIMALAYAN REGION AND WESTERN CHINA

Abstract

  A taxonomic revision is provided of the species of the liverwort genus Anastrophyllum (Spruce) Steph. found in the Himalayan region and western China (Yunnan and Sichuan Provinces). Of the ten taxa reported in the past, seven species are confirmed to occur in the study area: (1) A. minutum (Schreb.) R.M.Schust., (2) A. hellerianum (Nees ex Lindenb.) R.M.Schust., (3) A. lignicola Schill & D.G.Long (recently described as a new species), (4) A. bidens (Nees) Steph., (5) A. donnianum (Hook.) Steph. (6) A. joergensenii Schiffn. and (7) A. assimile (Mitt.) Steph. Records for A. michauxii (Weber) Buch and A. piligerum (Nees) Steph. are considered to be based on misidentifications, while A. erectifolium (Steph.) Steph. is a synomym of Anastrepta orcadensis (Hook.) Schiffn. A key to the accepted species is provided, and for each a description and illustration is given, as well as relevant synonymy, typification, ecological notes and geographical distribution. The occurrence of sporophytes is reported for the highly disjunct Anastrophyllum joergensenii Schiffn. for the first time and these are described. The following regional geographical totals and new records are reported: Nepal 5 species; Sikkim 5 species (A. bidens new), Bhutan 7 species (A. minutum new), Yunnan 7 species (A. bidens and A. assimile new) and Sichuan 2 species (A. lignicola and A. assimile new). Anastrophyllum joergensenii is also reported as new to North America, from the Aleutian Islands. An analysis is presented of the ecology and phytogeography of the seven accepted species.