Introduction
For a forthcoming catalogue of hornworts and liverworts of Central America, a few taxa have been re-evaluated. Three species of Plagiochila are here synonymized based on the previous examinations but until now unpublished.
Plagiochila viridis Steph. was described from Guatemala (Stephani 1921) and is until today only known from the type specimen. The type specimen in G was annotated by M. Sauer in 2003 as a synonym of Plagiochila bryopteroides Spruce but the synonym was never published. Plagiochila bryopteroides was then synonymized with Plagiochila deflexirama Taylor by Gradstein (2015).
Plagiochila kroneana Steph. was described from Brazil (Stephani 1902) and has been reported from Brazil (Santa Catharina, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro), Peru, Haiti and Costa Rica. Gradstein and Costa (2003) stated that it was close to Plagiochila micropteryx Gottsche without making a formal synonym. The latter was then synonymized with Plagiochila laetevirens Lindenb. by Gradstein (2015). The lectotype in G was annotated by M. Sauer in 2003 as being Plagiochila laetevirens but has up to now not been formally synonymized.
Plagiochila prostrata Steph. and Plagiochila pittieri Steph. were described in the same publication from the same locality in Costa Rica (Stephani 1902). The former is until now only known from the type while Plagiochila pittieri has been reported from a few places in Costa Rica and also from French Guiana, Guyana, Colombia and Peru. The lectotype of Plagiochila prostrata in G was annotated by H. Inoue in 1988 as being Plagiochila pittieri but it seems never to have been formally synonymized.
Formal treatment
Plagiochila deflexirama Taylor, London J. Bot. 5: 262, 1846 (Taylor 1846). Type: Ecuador (‘Peru’).
=Plagiochila bryopteroides Spruce, Trans. Proc. Bot. Soc. Edinburgh 15: 499, 1885 (Spruce 1885), syn. fide Gradstein (2015). Type: Peru.
=Plagiochila viridis Steph., Sp. Hepat. (Stephani) 6: 239, 1921 (Stephani 1921), syn. nov. Lectotype: (Bonner 1962, p. 331) if not holotype: Guatemala, Alta Verapaz, Cobán, 1907, Türckheim s.n., hb Levier 5573 in hb G (=G00282940, www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/chg/adetail.php?id=222185&lang=en).
Plagiochila laetevirens Lindenb., Sp. Hepat. (Lindenberg) 2-4: 101, 1840 (Lindenberg 1840). Type: Ecuador.
=Plagiochila micropteryx Gottsche, Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. (sér. 5) 1: 107, 1864 (Gottsche 1864), syn. fide Gradstein (2015). Type: Colombia.
=Plagiochila kroneana Steph., Bull. Herb. Boissier (sér. 2) 2: 678 (=Sp. Hepat. [Stephani] 2: 215), 1902 (Stephani 1902), syn. nov. Lectotype (Bonner 1962, p. 165): St. Catharina, Krone s.n. ex hb Schiller (Dresden 11) (G00282925 www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/chg/adetail.php?id=222479&lang=en).
Plagiochila pittieri Steph. Bull. Herb. Boissier (sér. 2) 2: 673 (=Sp. Hepat. [Stephani] 2: 210, 1902 (Stephani 1902b). Lectotype (Bonner 1962, p. 234) if not holotype: Costa Rica, Montaña de Poas, 2400 m, 1888, Pittier s.n., ex hb Bescherelle 18 (G00121457 www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/chg/adetail.php?id=183233&lang=en).
=Plagiochila prostrata Steph., Bull. Herb. Boissier (sér. 2) 2: 668 (=Sp. Hepat. [Stephani]) 2: 205, 1902 (Stephani 1902b), syn. nov. Lectotype (Bonner 1962, p. 239): Costa Rica, Montaña de Poás, 2400 m, Pittier s.n. (G00121488 www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/chg/adetail.php?id=178993&lang=en).
Note: we are choosing Plagiochila pittieri as name since there are more reports under this name.
© 2023 The Authors. This is an Open Access article
