Transfer of Lejeunea huctumalcensis to Physantholejeunea (Lejeuneaceae, Porellales)

Abstract

Phylogenetic analyses of a three-marker dataset of Lejeuneaceae (chloroplast genome rbcL gene and trnL–trnF region, and nuclear ribosomal ITS1–5.8S-ITS2 region) resolve Lejeunea huctumalcensis (synonym Ceratolejeunea dussiana) in a well supported lineage with Physantholejeunea portoricensis. Representatives of Lejeunea and Ceratolejeunea form independent lineages. Physantholejeunea and L. huctumalcensis share the presence of ocelli, pycnolejeuneoid innovations and keeled perianths, with keels forming horn-like projections. On the basis of the molecular phylogenetic and morphological evidence, we transfer L. huctumalcensis to Physantholejeunea.