Elmeriobryum philippinense Brotherus, 1925

Azuelo, Andrea G., Tan, Benito C., Shevock, James R., Manual, Alven, Yorong, Aimanuelzon & Sariana, Lalaine G., 2015, Mosses New for Mindanao Island, Republic of the Philippines, Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 62 (4), pp. 127-134 : 130

3. Elmeriobryum philippinense Brotherus

[ Hypnaceae ]

[syn. Gollania philippinensis (Brotherus) Noguchi , Elmeriobryum assimile Brotherus , Elmeriobryum brotheri R. S. Williams ex Brotherus]

In a very recent revision, the genus Elmeriobryum Brotherus was shown to consist of two species in Asia, namely, E. philippinense found in continental China (Guangdong Province), Taiwan and the Philippines, and E. wilhemense (E.B. Bartram) W.R. Buck & B.C. Tan , restricted to Papua New Guinea (Buck and Tan 2007; Higuchi 1985). The two species were stated to differ diagnostically in their plant size and altitudinal range (Buck and Tan 2007). A good illustration of Elmeriobryum philippinense is shown in Higuchi (1985, as Gollania philippinensis ).

For many years, E. philippinense was known only from northern Luzon, which is geographically close to Taiwan and mainland China, representing an example of the “Taiwan-Philippine (Luzon)” endemics. Yet, E. philippinense is now shown to be present also in Mindanao. See the report of Trachypus longifolius Noguchi below for a similar distribution pattern.

SPECIMENS EXAMINED.— Bukidnon Province. Mt. Kitanglad Range Natural Park, on tree trunk, 25 Apri 2009, Azuelo s.n. ( CMUH, UC) ; ibid, epiphytic, 7 Sep 2007, Azuelo s.n. ( CMUH 30 , UC) .