Epipterygium atlanticum Hanusch, 2020

Hanusch, Maximilian, Ortiz, Edgardo M., Patiño, Jairo & Schaefer, Hanno, 2020, Biogeography and integrative taxonomy of Epipterygium (Mniaceae, Bryophyta), TAXON 69 (6), pp. 1150-1171 : 1161

Epipterygium atlanticum Hanusch , sp. nov. –

Holotype: PORTUGAL. Azores, Terceira, Zentrale Nordküste, Wanderweg PR 2 Baias Agualva zwischen Quatro Ribeiras und Agualva, an Lavablock in kleiner Schlucht; 15 m; WGS84: 36 Ǫ 47.6–7′N, 27 Ǫ 11.5–8′W; A. Schäfer-Verwimp & I. Verwimp, 3 Jun 2012, Herb. Schäfer-Verwimp 33545 ( TUM No. M2143! ).

Diagnosis. – An Epipterygium species with short stems, gametophyte hardly exceeding 4 mm in size. Dorsal and ventral leaves dimorphic, one row of distinctly smaller ventral leaves. Dorsal leaves 4 to 5 per stem, obtuse to ovate, 1.5– 2.1 mm long. Costa ending well before tip. Perichaetial leaves entire, non-serrate, median cells 90–150 μm long, 3 to 4 rows of marginal cells. Illustrated in Fig. 5 .

Distribution. – Subtropical, oceanic climates. Atlantic islands (Azores, Madeira, Canary Islands), Scotland. The distribution on the British Isles needs to be investigated in more detail but the species does not seem to be a strict Macaronesian endemic.

Figures

Fig. 5. Epipterygium atlanticum sp. nov. A, Habitus; B, Dorsal leaf; C, Perichaetial leaf apex.