Sofronova, E.V., A.D. Potemkin & A.A. Vilnet. 2026. The family Pelliaceae (Marchantiophyta) in Yakutia and an approach to its differentiation in Russia

Arctoa (2026) 35: 97–107

doi: 10.15298/arctoa.35.09

A revision of Yakutian specimens of the family Pelliaceae was carried out, with the focus to specimens previously attributed to Pellia endiviifolia. In addition to studying morphological traits, a molecular phylogenetic study was conducted for the first time, based on samples from different regions of Yakutia. It was established that three species of the Pelliaceae are common in Yakutia: Apopellia alpicola, A. megaspora, and Pellia neesiana. Apopellia alpicola occurs sporadically, both in the mountains and in lowland areas; no localities have been recorded in the Arctic Yakutia. Apopellia megaspora is widespread in Yakutia and represented by two haplotypes. The first haplotype is found in five localities in Yakutia, and was previously reported in Russia only on the Taimyr Peninsula. Worldwide, this haplotype is highly disjunctive, being also known from Northwestern North America (Alberta, Canada). The second haplotype has wider range in Russia and was previously known from North European Russia and South Siberia. It is first registered in Yakutia and found from single locality in the western part of the republic. The study does not confirm previous reports of A. endiviifolia from Yakutia. Its previous available collections from Yakutia in SASY were re-identified in A. megaspora and A. alpicola. Apopellia alpicola and A. megaspora might be confused in Yakutia with A. endiviifolia, Pellia neesiana, P. epiphylla, Calycularia laxa and Aneura pinguis (A. maxima phenotype). Key to them is prepared. The key characters are disposition of apical slime hairs, their shape and number of cells, length of cilia of pseudoperichaetium and its shape at the base, presence vs. absence of pluridichotomous thin apical proliferations or their vestiges, and costa/thallus width ratio. Descriptions and illustrations of Yakutian species of Pelliaceae are provided. Their differentiation, ecology and distribution are discussed.