Bryophyte Diversity and Evolution

**A new species of Gollania (Pylaisiaceae, Bryophyta) from China**

MASANOBU HIGUCHI — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +1300

Gollania pengchengii sp. nov. (Pylaisiaceae) is described from China. The most important diagnostic characters of this species are: (1) distinct stepwise layered stems by annual growth, (2) erect capsules, (3) exostome teeth with smooth outer surface at the lower parts, (4) reduced endostome with rudimentary segments and (5) the presence of a preperistome. A key to the species of Gollania in China is presented.

Pseudoparaphysanthus ghatensis sp. nov. (Neckeraceae: Bryophyta) from the southern Western Ghats of India

MENON S. SAJITHA, CHANDRASEKHARAN N. MANJU, JOHANNES ENROTH — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +1300

Pseudoparaphysanthus ghatensis (Neckeraceae) is described and illustrated from specimens collected from the Nelliyampathy hills in the southern Western Ghats of India. The new species is characterised by small sized plants, leaves with inframarginal limbidia, a partly bistratose leaf margin and a strong costa extending beyond ¾ of leaf length. Its habit resembles especially that of P. bonianus and P. moutieri which, however, have marginal limbidium instead of an inframarginal one. An identification key to all species of Pseudoparaphysanthus is presented.

**Morphological and molecular evaluation of Plicanthus birmensis and P. hirtellus (Anastrophyllaceae, Marchantiophyta) in Asia and Africa**

Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +1300

Plicanthus hirtellus and P. birmensis are morphologically similar liverworts whose taxonomic distinction has long been debated due to overlapping characters. In this study, we examined specimens from Asia and Africa primarily in East Africa, including the type specimen of P. hirtellus, using both morphological and molecular data. Morphologically, P. hirtellus typically bears filamentous cilia on the leaves and has leaf lobes with long uniseriate apices composed of rectangular to linear cells. In contrast, P. birmensis has shorter apices with quadrate to rectangular cells and lacks filamentous cilia. Molecular phylogenetic analyses support the distinction between the two species. However, poorly developed individuals of P. hirtellus may resemble P. birmensis, highlighting the potential for misidentification. We conclude that an integrated approach, combining molecular data with careful morphological assessment of well-developed shoots, is essential for accurate species delimitation within Plicanthus.

**A taxonomic study of Pylaisiadelpha (Sematophyllaceae, Bryophyta)**

YU JIA, WEI HAN — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +1300

The eight species currently attributed to Pylaisiadelpha are revised. Four species are recognized: P. capillacea (reported here new to China), P. duellii, P. tenuirostris and P. tristoviridis (reported here new to U.S.A.). Pylaisiadelpha brasiliensis is transferred to Sematophyllum, as S. prolongirostratum Y.Jia nom. nov.; P. drepanioides, P. yokohamae and P. sharpii are treated as new synonyms of P. tenuirostris and Isopterygium tenerum, respectively. The illustrations and detailed descriptions mainly based on the type specimens are provided. A key to the four species and a list of status of all name placed in Pylaisiadelpha are also presented. Clastobryum cupressinoides is excluded from synonymy of Pylaisiadelpha capillacea and consider as a new synonym of Brotherella henonii.

Validation of the five new moss families in the recent Phylogeny Group

QING-HUA WANG, BOON‐CHUAN HO, YU JIA — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +1300

Recently, seven new moss families have been proposed within the orders Hypnales and Hookeriales, based on both plastid genome and morphological data (Li et al., 2024). However, five of them are not considered validly published because of a lack of a description or diagnosis in Latin or English according to the Code. We hereby supplement these contents to fulfil the requirement of their valid publication.

Acromastigum herzogii (Lepidoziaceae, Marchantiophyta), a new record for China, and two additional Lepidoziaceae species in Guangxi’s bryoflora

QI-MING TANG, BOON-CHUAN HO, YA-MING LING, YU-MEI WEI — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +1300

Following a bryological investigation of Shiwandashan National Nature Reserve in Guangxi, China, Acromastigum herzogii is reported as a new national record, accompanied by a detailed morphological description. Furthermore, two additional species of Lepidoziaceae, Kurzia borneensis and Zoopsis liukiuensis, are documented. The taxonomically poorly understood species K. borneensis is considered here as a distinct and well-circumscribed taxon, new to mainland China. The genus Zoopsis is recorded for the first time from Guangxi.

**Discovery of new locations of the critically endangered Bazzania bhutanica (Lepidoziaceae, Marchantiophyta) in Bhutan**

THINLEY DORJI, TASHI DHENDUP, TILAK BHANDARI — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +1300

Bazzania bhutanica, a critically endangered species previously known from only two localities in Bhutan and one locality in India, has now been discovered in another two localities west to Samtse, Bhutan.

**New records of Orthotrichum s.l. (Orthotrichaceae, Bryophyta) in Hubei Province, a diversity center in China**

QING-HUA WANG, QIANG HE, HUI-LIANG YU, YOU-ZHI LI, YU JIA — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +1300

The genus Orthotrichum s.l., predominantly found in temperate regions as an epiphytic moss, boasts a large number of species and is widely distributed in China. Despite recent revisions of the genus in China, our understanding of the distribution of species remains inadequate. Over the past five years, we have examined a large number of Orthotrichum s.l. (Lewinskya and Orthotrichum s.str.) specimens from China, enriching our distribution data. We have also gathered county-level geographical information of Chinese Orthotrichum s.l. through accessible literature. Here we report seven new records for Hubei Province: Lewinskya hookeri, L. pulchra, Orthotrichum callistomum, O. pumilum, O. schofieldii, O. subpumilum, and O. vermiferum. These raise the number of Orthotrichum s.l. species known from Hubei from nine to 15, making Hubei province the fourth highest in diversity of this genus in China, after Sichuan, Xizang, and Gansu. The record of Lewinskya speciosa from Hubei is treated as doubtful because we have not yet obtained the specimens cited by previous authors. Based on the specimen data, in addition to the two known diversity centers of Orthotrichum s.l. (Hengduan and Tianshan-Altai mountain regions), we have found a third one, namely the Qinling-Daba Mts. region. Considering that literature data indicates many records in the northeast and southeast regions of China, the data from the specimens we observed is still insufficient, and new areas with high diversity will likely emerge in the future.

A brief biography of Prof. WU Peng-Cheng

QING-HUA WANG, YU JIA — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +1300

WU Peng-Cheng was born on June 5, 1935 in Haining, Zhejiang Province, as the second child among three siblings. In 1937, his parents relocated their entire family to Shanghai to escape the war. During his childhood, he was often ill, but his life was relatively comfortable as his father was a dentist. At the age of 17, he was admitted to the Department of Biology at Fudan University in Shanghai, a top institution in China.

Professor Wu Pengcheng: A leading bryologist and respected scholar in China

TONG CAO — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +1300

As a Chinese bryologist, I am proud that the IAB decided to publish a special issue of Bryophyte Diversity and Evolution honoring Professor Wu Pengcheng, from Institute of Botany, The Chinese Academy of Sciences, for his significant contribution to bryology. Professor Wu was born in 1935, and 2025 is the year of his 90th birthday (Figure 1). I am pleased to write a short article about Wu’s activity in bryological research and his contribution to bryology based on the personal contacts between Professor Wu and myself since 1983, when I met Prof. Wu at a meeting in Beijing for the first time.

Professor Wu Pengcheng, How I Got to Know Him

YONGYING LIU — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +1300

In the early winter of 2011, as a doctoral student, I was instructed by Professor Zhao Jiancheng to examine specimens of the Bryaceae family and related taxa at the Herbarium of the Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences (PE). There, I first met the long-admired Professor Wu Pengcheng. I was deeply excited, having previously known his name only through literature like Moss Flora of China and Professor Zhao’s frequent mentions—now, I finally encountered him in person.

Special issue for Wu Pengcheng, commemorating his 90th birthday (cover)

BOON-CHUAN HO, MICHAEL STECH, PHIANGPHAK SUKKHARAK — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +1300

Cover

Special issue for Wu Pengcheng, commemorating his 90th birthday (TOC)

BOON-CHUAN HO, MICHAEL STECH, PHIANGPHAK SUKKHARAK — Tue, 30 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +1300

TOC