The moss genus lsopterygium (Hypnaceae) in Latin America

Abstract

The pleurocarpous moss genus Isopterygium (Hypnaceae) is revised for Latin America. Although as many as 92 species and varieties have been reported for the region over past years, these are currently accommodated by the present revision into only eight species. The most common taxon throughout most of Latin America, Isopterygium tenerum (Sw.) Mitt., is also the most polymophic and presently 45 taxa are recognized as synonyms. The other seven species are I. affusum Mitt. (Guadeloupe, Honduras, Venezuela, Brazil), I. acutifolium Irel. (Venezuela, Guyana), I. byssobolax (C. Müll.) Par. (Brazil, Bolivia, Argentina), I. jamaicense (Bartr.) Buck (Mexico, Guatemala, Jamaica), I. subbrevisetum (Hampe) Broth. (West Indies, Costa Rica to southern Brazil), I. subglobosum Herz. (Bolivia), and I. tenerifolium Mitt. (West Indies, southern Mexico to northern Argentina).