A TAXONOMIC STUDY OF THE GENUS PYLAISIA (HYPNACEAE, MUSCI)
2004 Volume 95 Pages 71-154
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2004 Volume 95 Pages 71-154
The genus Pylaisia (Hypnaceae, Musci) is taxonomically revised, using more than 2,000 specimens, some of which are in TNS collection (including specimens collected by myself and given to me by many collaborators in the present study) and the others are borrowed from various herbaria all over the world. Among the morphological observations, special attention is paid to peristome structure by means of the scanning electron microscope. The relationships among members of the Hypnaceae subfamily Pylaisioideae are discussed. The monospecific genus Giraldiella is synonymized with Pylaisia. The peristome structures of Pylaisia are classified into five types mainly based on the degree of reduction and adhesion of the endostome. Fifteen species of Pylaisia are recognized conclusively: (1) Pylaisia polyantha (Hedw.) Schimp., (2) Pylaisia steerei (Ando & Higuchi) Ignatov, (3) Pylaisia curviramea Dixon, (4) Pylaisia levieri (Müll. Hal.) Arikawa, (5) Pylaisia extenta (Mitt.) A. Jaeger, (6) Pylaisia falcata Schimp., (7) Pylaisia kunisawae (Ando) Arikawa, (8) Pylaisia obtusa Lindb., (9) Pylaisia selwynii Kindb., (10) Pylaisia brotheri Besch., (11) Pylaisia subcircinata Cardot, (12) Pylaisia cristata Cardot, (13) Pylaisia intricata (Hedw.) Schimp., (14) Pylaisia stereodontoides Broth. & Yasuda ex Iisiba, and (15) Pylaisia nana Mitt. Six species of Pylaisia are newly treated as synonyms of other species: Pylaisia coreana is synonymized to P. polyantha, P. macrotis to P. falcata, P. sublaevidens to P. obtusa, P. subimbricata to P. brotheri, P. robusta to P. cristata, and P. cardotii to P. stereodontoides. Pylaisia australis and Pylaisiella frahmii are transferred to Platygyrium and Platygyriella, respectively. Pylaisia latifolia is synonymized with Homomallium connexum. A key for identification of the species is provided, and for each species synonymy, description, illustration, representative specimens examined, habitat, distribution, and diagnostic characters are given.
