Contribution to the Bryoflora of Australia. VI. the Genus Cololejeunea (Spruce) Steph. (Lejeuneaceae, Marchantiophyta)

Abstract

Thirty-eight species of the genus Cololejeunea (Spruce) Steph. (Lejeuneaceae, Marchantiophyta) are reported for the whole of Australia, more than doubling the number of taxa known since the first account of the Australian members of the genus. Cololejeunea cairnsiana Pócs, Cololejeunea heinari Pócs and Cololejeunea floccosa var. fraseriana Pócs are described as new to science. The records of Cololejeunea diaphana A. Evans, Cololejeunea gottschei (Steph.) Mizut., Cololejeunea longifolia (Mitt.) Benedix ex Mizut. Cololejeunea verrucosa Steph. and Cololejeunea floccosa (Lehm. & Lindenb.) Steph. var. amoenoides Tixier are new for the continent. Cololejeunea amoena Benedix is treated as a variety of Cololejeunea floccosa. Cololejeunea tortifolia Steph. is synonymized with Cololejeunea microscopica (Taylor) Schiffn. and is excluded from the Australian flora. The name Cololejeunea cambodiana Tixier is validated. A key for the Australian taxa and an analysis of their distribution follow the enumeration of species.