Lejeunea hodgsoniana, a newly described, long recognised Lejeunea (Jungermanniopsida, Lejeuneaceae) from lowland coastal forest habitats in New Zealand

Abstract

Lejeunea hodgsoniana Grolle ex R.J.Lewington, P.Beveridge & M.A.M.Renner sp. nov., A taxon originally recognised by Riclef Grolle in 1980, but not described, known from a number of coastal sites in the North Island, the northern extremity of the South Island, the Kermadec Islands, and the Chatham Islands of New Zealand, is described and illustrated. The species is distinctive amongst species of Lejeunea in the Australasian flora in the combination of complanate shoots, relatively large broadly-ovate leaf lobes, with some lobules bearing prominent multicellular triangular teeth on a base of two to four cells, the flattened perianthsa faint dorsal carina. Its publication brings the number of species recognized for New Zealand to 14, seven of which are currently considered endemic.