Ignatova E.A.,
O.I.
Kuznetsova
& M.S.
Ignatov. Further comments on the genus Hedwigia
(Hedwigiaceae, Bryophyta)
Arctoa (2017) 26: 132–143
doi: 10.15298/arctoa.26.13
A new species from Asian Russia, Hedwigia kuzenevae sp. nova,
is described based on integrative molecular and morphological study. It is
similar to the recently described H. czernyadjevae in plant habit,
highly recurved leaf margins and hair-point structure, but differs in
multipapillose leaf cells. The latter character, as well as leaf margins
recurved to the hair-point, correspond to H. ciliata; however, its
hair-points are shorter, less strongly papillose, especially in distal part,
and leaves are falcate-secund, contrary to the straight leaves of H.
kuzenevae. Distribution area of H. kuzenevae includes Transbaikalia
and Tukuringra Range in Amurskyaya Province; it is also known from few
localities in Yakutia and Krasnoyarsk Territory. It often grows in areas with
calcareous bedrocks. Another taxon, H. emodica var. echinata var.
nova, is described from Asian Russia. It differs from the type variety in
falcate-secund leaves and slightly shorter hair-points with sharply dentate
margins and dorsal surface of hair-points covered with high, dense, branched
spinulae. These morphological differences make these taxa quite distinct,
though they are not separated from each other by nuclear ITS1-2 DNA marker,
contrary to other taxa within Hedwigia. According to the DNA sequence
data, Hedwigia mollis is also closely related to H. emodica, but
it is better separated and likely deserves species status. It shares some
morphological features with both varietes of H. emodica, but differs
from both of them by shorter hair-points with sligtly papillose distal portion.
Hedwigia emodica var. emodica has a widest distribution area
throughout Russia, while H. mollis is mainly Eiuropean species and
distribution of H. emodica var. echinata is restricted to the
south of Russian Far East and Transbaikalia.