Homalothecium californicum (Brachytheciaceae), a new endemicspecies to the California Floristic Province, Pacific Coast ofNorth America

摘要

A new species of Homalothecium from California is described and illustrated. Thisspecies was first recognized as distinctive during analysis of a DNA investigation into members ofHomalothecium and related genera. Homalothecium californicum sp. nov. is distinct in its frondosebranching, patent to loosely erect leaves, size intermediate between the somewhat similar H.megaptilum and H. nevadense, and cylindrical, straight, and orthotropous capsules with basallyreddened exostome teeth. Subsequent herbarium and field exploration determined this new speciesto be a rather common and widespread species in central and northern California within a mixedconifer-hardwood transition zone. Several herbarium collections of this new species were foundpreviously determined as Homalothecium megaptilum, H. nevadense, H. fulgescens or H. aeneum.