Synopsis top ↑
This work is the first treatment of the Chinese members of the
Ptychanthoideae, a subfamily of Lejeuneaceae, provides detailed
descriptions and illustrations of 38 species from 11
genera. Lejeuneaceae are the species-richest family of liverworts and
are an important component of the epiphytic fl ora of humid-tropical
and subtropical forests. The genus Gradsteinianthus R.L. Zhu & Jian
Wang bis is newly described based on molecular and morphological
evidence. The molecular data also confirm the generic status of the
monotypic Asian genus Tuzibeanthus. Frullanoides tristis, Schiff -
neriolejeunea polycarpa, S. pulopenangensis and Thysanan thus
convolutus are newly reported from China and the occurrence of
Lopholejeunea applanata in China is confirmed. One species,
Acrolejeunea sinensis, is exclusively known in China.
The present study confirms the taxonomic status of Caudalejeunea
tridentata and the relationships of Ptychanthus and Tuzibeanthus by
using evidence from three molecular markers (rbcL, trnL-F, nrITS) and
morphological traits, improving the understanding of the diversity of
Chinese Ptychanthoideae. It incorporates the most recent results of
the ongoing revision of the genera of Ptychan thoideae based on
morphology and molecular analysis.