Potemkin, A.D. & E.V. Sofronova. Taxonomic study on the genus Cephalozia in Russia and circumscription of the genus

Arctoa (2013) 22: 173-206

Polyphyletic origin of the genus Cephalozia shown by recent molecular studies excludes aceptance of traditional concept of the genus and presumes its splitting into Cephalozia s.str. (C. bicuspidata and related species, C. macounii) and Fuscocephaloziopsis (incl. Pleurocladula, Schofieldia, Metahygrobiella), which morphological distinctions are unclear, or circumscription of Cephalozia sensu lato, including all abovementioned genera and Nowellia. Recently established the Jurrasic age of the family Cephaloziaceae s. l., monophyletic origin of all investigated species of Cephalozia, Fuscocephaloziopsis, Metahygrobiella, Nowellia, Pleurocladula, Schofieldia and common morphology support such a broad circumscription of Cephalozia. Two new nomenclature combinations – C. monticola (J.D. Godfrey) Potemkin & Sofronova, comb. nov. и C. albula (Steph.) Potemkin & Sofronova, comb. nov. – are suggested. Seventeen species of Cephalozia sensu lato are recognized for Russia. The key to them, their descriptions, known distribution in Russia, world distribution, ecology, citation of selected illustrations and specimens, description of variability and differentiation as well as original illustrations of principal taxonomic characters are provided for every species. Integrity of Cephalozia sensu lato is confirmed by SEM images of spore surface of C. affinis, C. albescens, C. bicuspidata, C. catenulata, C. connivens, C. curvifolia, C. leucantha, C. loitlesbergeri, C. macounii, C. monticola and C. pleniceps that demonstrate ± common pattern of outgrowths and are distinct in their density, length, thickness and development of secondary outgrowths.