Frullania knightbridgei, a new liverwort (Frullaniaceae, Marchantiophyta) species from the deep south of Aotearoa-New Zealand based on an integrated evidence-based approach

By

Von Konrat, Matt
De Lange, Peter J. (Peter James)
Greif, Matthew
Strozier, Lynika
Hentschel, Jörn
Heinrichs, Jochen

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2012

Original Publication

PhytoKeys

Volume

8

Pages

13-36

Subjects

DNA sequence data , Frullania , Frullania knightbridgei sp. nov , Frullaniaceae , halotolerant liverwort , Morphology , New Zealand Flora , subg. Microfrullania

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

Sofia, Bulgaria Pensoft Publishers [2010]-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.8.2496

 

Abstract

Frullania is a large and taxonomically complex genus. A new liverwort species, Frullania knightbridgei sp. nov. from southern New Zealand, is described and illustrated. The new species, and its placement in Frullania subg. Microfrullania, is based on an integrated evidence-based approach derived from morphology, ecology, experimental growth studies of plasticity, as well as sequence data. Diagnostic characters associated with the leaf and lobule cell-wall anatomy, oil bodies, and spore ultra-structure distinguish it from all other New Zealand species of Frullania. A critical comparison is also made between Frullania knightbridgei and morphologically allied species of botanical regions outside the New Zealand region and an artificial key is provided. The new species is similar to some forms of the widespread Australasian species, F. rostrata, but has unique characters associated with the lobule and oil bodies. Frullania knightbridgei is remarkably interesting in comparison with the majority of Frullania species, and indeed liverworts in general, in that it is at least partially halotolerant. Maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood analyses of nuclear ribosomal ITS2 and plastidic trnL-trnF sequences from purported related species confirms its independent taxonomic status and corroborates its placement within Frullania subg. Microfrullania.