Plagiothecium talbotii, a new species from the Aleutian Islands (Alaska, U.S.A.)

• Published in: PhytoKeys
• Main Authors: Grzegorz J. Wolski, Paulina Nowicka-Krawczyk, William R. Buck
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Pensoft Publishers 2022
• Subjects: Botany; QK1-989; Attu Island; Attu; Alaska; Aleutian Islands
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3897/phytokeys.194.81652; https://doaj.org/article/d90725556fa34de58e6d564395789e18

Plagiothecium talbotii sp. nov. is described from Attu Island, Alaska, U.S.A. The newly-described species is not similar in appearance to any Northern Hemisphere species; only the habit is similar to P. platyphyllum. However, it not only occupies a different habitat than that species, but genetically and morphologically, it is clearly distinct from it. The results of DNA sequencing, a detailed description of the morphological features, illustrations, ecological preferences and currently known geographical distribution of P. talbotii are presented. The most important distinguishing morphological features of this species are: the size of the plant; dimensions and symmetry of the leaves; dimensions of cells and their areolation; entire leaf apex; and long decurrencies with some inflated cells. Additionally, we propose to place P. talbotii in section Plagiothecium, which is confirmed by genetic analysis and morphological features.