Koroteeva, T.I., A.V. Fedorova & M.S. Ignatov. Cyrto-hypnum versicolor (Thuidiaceae, Bryophyta) in Russia

Arctoa (2016) 25: 80–88

doi: 10.15298/arctoa.25.04

Cyrto-hypnum versicolor is found for the first time in the Kuril Islands. This species was hitherto known in Russia only from the mainland, in Primorsky Territory. The species is extremely variable, and two collections from Russia represent opposite limits of its variation. The Kurilian specimen represents a marginal phenotype that is impossible to identify using keys in any floras. The illustrations and discussion on this variation is provided. The partial molecular phylogenetic analyses indicate a close relationship of Kurilian specimen with C. versicolor, although numerous differences in ITS sequences point out a necessity of a much broader analysis, making also the species promising for phylogeographic studies.