Neckera, Forsstroemia and Alleniella (Neckeraceae, Bryophyta) redefined based on phylogenetic analyses

Abstract

Phylogenetic relationships of species within the pleurocarpous moss genus Neckera s.l. (Neckeraceae) are reconstructed based on three genomic regions: the plastid rps4-trnT-trnL-trnF cluster and the rpl16 group II intron, as well as the internal transcribed spacer region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2). The phylogenetic reconstruction suggests numerous taxonomic changes within the Neckeraceae. Two unispecific Asian genera are described as new: Taiwanobryopsis to accommodate Neckera warburgii, and Indoneckera to accommodate Neckera himalayana. Seven of the other "Neckera" species, all distributed in Asia, are transferred to Forsstroemia, and a further four Asian species to Taiwanobryum. Six Southern Hemisphere or tropical species (one from New Zealand, one from Africa, four from South America) are transferred to Alleniella. After these adjustments, Neckera becomes a northern hemisphere, mainly temperate, genus of c. 10 species that are absent from the tropics. It is in this context morphologically characterized by lack of paraphyllia (except N. californica) and an absent or weak costa. Alleniella has two species-the first diverging lineages-in the northern hemisphere, but the rest of the currently 15 species are distributed in the southern hemisphere and most of the species occur in mountain habitats in the tropics; it is however absent from tropical Asia and very scarce in Asia in general. Twelve of the 54 species have paraphyllia, which is the clearest morphological distinction from Neckera. Forsstroemia with 19 species, heavily concentrated in Asia, is the largest genus in the Neckeraceae. Clearly longer and more distinct costa distinguishes the genus from Neckera and Alleniella. Taiwanobryum is a morphologically heterogeneous Asian genus of nine species. Neckera decurrens Broth. is synonymized with Forsstroemia fauriei and Neckera valentiniana Besch. with Alleniella ehrenbergii.

Alleniella aegaea Blockeel & Hugonnot (Neckeraceae), a new moss species from the Aegean islands of Greece

“…The molecular phylogenetic trees (Figures 1, 2) are congruent with previous results (Enroth et al 2019(Enroth et al , 2022Fedosov and Ignatov 2019;Ignatov et al 2019;Olsson, 2009aOlsson, , b, 2011 in the general tree topology (where the earlier divergent lineages include Thamnobrum, Enrothia, and Pseudomalia), and also in the separate position of Alleniella and Exsertotheca from Neckera s.str.…”

“…2022). The main segregates are Alieniella S. Olsson, Enroth & D. Quandt with 15 species, Exsertotheca S. Olsson, Enroth & D. Quandt with 3 species, and the resurrected unispecific Metaneckera Steere (Olsson et al 2011;Draper et al 2011;Enroth et al 2022). The morphological differences between Neckera s.str., Alleniella, Exsertotheca and Forsstroemia are not clear-cut but there are some.…”

“…In the 21st century however Neckera s.l. has been shown to be paraphyletic and its species have been transferred into several newly described genera and certain existing genera, especially Forsstroemia Lindb., which has 19 species (Olsson et al 2011;Enroth et al 2019Enroth et al , 2022Fedosov and Ignatov 2019). In its current circumscription Neckera s.str.…”

“…S. Olsson, Enroth & D. Quandt and A. besseri (Lobarz. ) S. Olsson, Enroth & D. Quandt are from the temperate Northern Hemisphere (Enroth et al 2022). Metaneckera menziesii has a strongly disjunct distribution of a Mediterranean character.…”