Fedosov, V.E., A.V. Fedorova & E.A. Ignatova. 2023. Weissia exserta (Pottiaceae, Bryophyta) in Russia

Arctoa (2023) 32: 237–242

doi: 10.15298/arctoa.32.22

The present study deals with an identity of the rich and peculiar specimen of Weissia recently collected in the vicinity of Mondy settl. in Tunkinskaya valley of Buryatia. Morphologically it resembles W. exserta in possessing exserted cleistocarpous capsules with partly differentiated annuli, and opercula with long oblique beak; however, in having shorter leaves, cygneous setae and somewhat larger spores it differs from Japanese plants. Molecular barcoding with nrITS, cp trnL-F, rps4 and rbcL did not allow referring this specimen to any of the previously studied species, including W. exserta, represented in GenBank by Japanese specimens. Plants from Mondy are illustrated and compared with other Russian specimens assigned to W. exserta; their affinities are discussed.