Leptodontium stellatifolium (Pottiaceae, Bryophyta) in la Réunion Island, a major range disjunction.

Abstract

A species of mountainous regions of Latin America, Leptodontium stellatifolium, is reported from La Réunion Island in the Indian Ocean. This is a major geographic range disjunction. The species is illustrated and described from La Réunion material, and its considerable variation across its range and within La Réunion is discussed. Explanations of its distribution are suggested in terms of both ancient sky and ocean island spore dispersal, and recent, human-mediated introduction. We provide a key for species of Leptodontium occurring on La Réunion.

Keywords

• Andes
• Indian Ocean
• La Réunion
• Leptodontium stellatifolium
• pseudoparaphyllia.