Plagiochila sect. Contiguae (Hepaticae) in Australasia and the Pacific, with description of Plagiochila subjavanica sp. nov.

Abstract

Plagiochila subjavanica sp. nov. from Papua New Guinea is described and illustrated. Plagiochila aspera Steph.,P. francana Steph., P. javanica(Sw.) Nees & Mont., P. junghuhniana Sande Lac.,P. metcalfii Steph., P. obtusaLindenb., P. owaihiensis Nees & Lindenb.,P. paucidens Steph.,P. purpurascens Steph.,P. streimannii Inoue, P. tectaInoue & Grolle and P. teysmannii Sande Lac. areincluded in the section. Twelve species names are newly placed in synonymy:Plagiochila alta Steph.,P. ovalava Steph., P. multifurcataSteph., P. riddleana Steph. andP. vagans Steph. are treated as synonymous withP. teysmannii Sande Lac.Plagiochila erectifolia Steph.,P. queenslandica Steph.,P. trigona Steph. andP. viridissima Steph. are conspecific with P.metcalfii Steph.Plagiochila daviesiana Steph.,P. pulchra Steph. and P. vescoanaSteph. are synonymised with P. junghuhniana Sande Lac.Lectotypes are designated for P. alta Steph.,P. paucidens Steph. andP. vescoana. Plagiochila manillanaMont. & Gottsche is excluded from Australasia and the Pacific. A keyto the 13 species of sect. Contiguae Carl in Australasiaand the Pacific all other provided.