Photobiont sharing among lichens within communities is a well-documented phenomenon, especially among closely related fungal species that form photobiont-mediated guilds (Dal Grande et al. 2014; Rikkinen et al. 2002). Species of Lobaria and other closely related genera that associate with Symbiochloris reticulata are one example of a photobiont-mediated guild that have been the subject of extensive research (Dal Grande et al. 2014). In their study, Dal Grande et al. (2014) compared algal multi-locus genotypes (MLGs) at one site in Taiwan and one site in Madeira among four species of Dendriscosticta, 16 species of Lobaria, and one species of Ricasolia, and, using pairwise FST values, found the species did not associate with significantly different green algal partners when they co-occurred. Green algal symbiont sharing has also been documented between the predominantly sexually reproducing Umbilicaria spodochroa and predominantly vegetatively reproducing Lasallia pustulata (Hestmark et al 2016). Werth (2012) recovered a more complex pattern of compartmentalization in Ramalina menziesii and adjacent lichen species. Photobiont sharing may also occur with co-occurring non-lichen organisms, such as liverworts (Cornejo & Scheidegger 2016).

Discussions of curation practices for bryophyte collections have a long history in the literature dating back to the 19th and 20th centuries. This study aims to 1) document and synthesize the range of bryophyte storage and organization systems staff report using in European and North American herbaria, as well as the rationale behind these practices; 2) compare/contrast these practices and rationale with the curation preferences and rationale of active herbarium users; and 3) facilitate further discussion regarding practices for curating bryophyte collections. We collected survey data regarding staff curation practices at and user curation preferences for bryophyte collections in Europe and North America. We used regression models and thematic analysis to analyze our quantitative data and qualitative data, respectively. We found that institutional demographics, such as geographic location, institution type, and total herbarium size are significant predictors of bryophyte specimen storage and organization practices, and that user demographics, such as age, active bryology research agenda, and current primary title were significant predictors of the storage preferences of herbarium users. The most common theme that emerged in the practice/preference explanations of staff members and herbarium users was convenience/accessibility. Other prevalent themes in staff and user explanations for their bryophyte curation practices/preferences include physical factors, inherited tradition, lack of expertise, and phylogenetic/taxonomic concerns. Our findings also suggest the context in which members of the bryological community operate plays a significant role in shaping individuals' curation practices/preferences, including both institutional and user demographics. We conclude by offering a discussion of recommendations for bryophyte specimen storage and organization at herbaria.

While most lichenicolous fungi belong to the Ascomycota, c. 5% of them are members of the Basidiomycota. Among these, the poorly known genus Crittendenia in the Pucciniomycotina has recently been described for lichenicolous fungi with minuscule needle-like synnematous basidiomata. Although only two species were hitherto known, the wide observed host-spectrum suggested a larger number of mainly host-specific species. A classical revision using morphological characters alone proved to be virtually impossible, because of the large variability of the material from each host genus, and the scant morphological differences between hypothetically distinct species from different hosts. We studied over sixty specimens and made a large number of measurements of the available morphological characters. We additionally generated 18 ITS and 21 nuLSU rDNA sequences and conducted maximum likelihood and Bayesian analyses. We also performed one species delimitation analysis (bPTP-ML). By combining sometimes subtle morphological differences, host choice and phylogenetic results, we were able to accept eighteen morphologically and/or genetically distinct species, all confined to a single host genus or to several closely related host genera. Two further putative species are left unnamed, as richer material is needed and molecular data are missing. Sixteen new species are described: Crittendenia absistentis (on Bacidia absistens), C. bacidinae (on Bacidina apiahica), C. bryostigmatis (on Bryostigma muscigenum), C. byssolomatis (on Byssoloma maderense), C. crassitunicata (on Melanohalea ushuaiensis), C. heterodermiae (on Heterodermia comosa), C. hypotrachynae (on Hypotrachyna), C. kakouettae (on ‘Byssoloma’ kakouettae), C. lecanorae (on Lecanora), C. lecidellae (on Lecidella elaeochroma), C. lopadii (on Lopadium disciforme), C. parvispora (on Bacidia), C. physciiphila (on Phaeophyscia, Physcia and Physciella), C. physconiae (on Physconia distorta), C. stictae (on Sticta fuliginosa) and C. teloschistis (on Teloschistes). Further, a ML analysis of the Agaricostilbomycetes using ITS and nuLSU sequences suggested that Crittendenia cannot be included in any known family, and the new family Crittendeniaceae is therefore described for the genus.

Species delimitation is problematic in many plant groups and among the mosses, Sphagnum is one of the more contentious genera because of high levels of morphological variation. The allopolyploid species, Sphagnum majus, comprises one such problematic complex. Two morphologically differentiated but overlapping subspecies have been described. We conducted morphometric and molecular analyses with samples from around the Northern Hemisphere to test for phenotypic and phylogenetic differentiation between the subspecies. Although field collections of the two species can be statistically differentiated morphologically, there is substantial overlap. Genome-scale molecular data do not suggest any differentiation between S. majus ssp. majus and ssp. norvegicum, including samples assigned to the two taxa from sympatric sites. Sequence data from the plastid genome were employed to infer parentage of allopolyploid S. majus. Our results support the hypothesis that S. annulatum is the paternal parent and S. cuspidatum is the maternal parent. We conclude that the morphological differences between them are either plastic responses to habitat heterogeneity or segregating genetic variation within a single taxon. Formal taxonomic recognition of two taxa is not supported by our molecular data.

Phylogenetic relationships of species within the pleurocarpous moss genus Neckera s.l. (Neckeraceae) are reconstructed based on three genomic regions: the plastid rps4-trnT-trnL-trnF cluster and the rpl16 group II intron, as well as the internal transcribed spacer region of the nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2). The phylogenetic reconstruction suggests numerous taxonomic changes within the Neckeraceae. Two unispecific Asian genera are described as new: Taiwanobryopsis to accommodate Neckera warburgii, and Indoneckera to accommodate Neckera himalayana. Seven of the other “Neckera” species, all distributed in Asia, are transferred to Forsstroemia, and a further four Asian species to Taiwanobryum. Six Southern Hemisphere or tropical species (one from New Zealand, one from Africa, four from South America) are transferred to Alleniella. After these adjustments, Neckera becomes a northern hemisphere, mainly temperate, genus of c. 10 species that are absent from the tropics. It is in this context morphologically characterized by lack of paraphyllia (except N. californica) and an absent or weak costa. Alleniella has two species—the first diverging lineages—in the northern hemisphere, but the rest of the currently 15 species are distributed in the southern hemisphere and most of the species occur in mountain habitats in the tropics; it is however absent from tropical Asia and very scarce in Asia in general. Twelve of the 15 species have paraphyllia, which is the clearest morphological distinction from Neckera. Forsstroemia with 19 species, heavily concentrated in Asia, is the largest genus in the Neckeraceae. Clearly longer and more distinct costa distinguishes the genus from Neckera and Alleniella. Taiwanobryum is a morphologically heterogeneous Asian genus of nine species. Neckera decurrens Broth. is synonymized with Forsstroemia fauriei and Neckera valentiniana Besch. with Alleniella ehrenbergii.

Phytochromes are important in allowing plants to sense and react to environmental changes. We investigated the similarities and differences of sexual and asexual offspring of a tropical liverwort (Marchantia inflexa). We expected that both types of dispersing offspring will have similar germination responses to ensure that the resulting individual will be established in a viable microhabitat. This expectation contrasts with the different germination responses found in M. polymorpha offspring. Sexual (spores) and asexual (gemmae) offspring of M. inflexa were subjected to differing light qualities and quantities to test for phytochrome involvement in germination. Proportions of offspring germinated were then compared within each type of offspring. We also compared the DNA and protein of the phytochrome and the phytochrome-interacting factor of M. polymorpha with M. inflexa to test for similarity. Sexual and asexual offspring of M. inflexa germination responses were consistent with being phytochrome-mediated, which will likely result in both germinating in similar microhabitats. Interestingly, this pattern differs from reports for M. polymorpha spores where germination is mediated by photosynthesis. The two species provide novel insights into the evolution of phytochrome functionality within a genus. Between the two species the DNA and protein of the phytochrome was conserved but the DNA and protein of the phytochrome-interacting factor less so.

We used isozyme markers to obtain an estimate of multiple paternity (mating of females with multiple males) in the unisexual, haploid leafy liverwort Porella platyphylloidea. From a sample of 119 plants, 15 (12.6%) were non-sex-expressing, 16 (13.4%) were females without sporophytes, 38 (31.9%) were males, and 50 (42.0%) were females bearing sporophytes. Thus, 87.4% of all plants expressed sex, and 73.5% of females bore sporophytes. The overall observed sex ratio was female-biased at 1.74:1. We extracted a total of 121 sporophytes from the 50 fertile females. Using the strict criterion that only female plants bearing two or more sporophytes with different multilocus genotypes represent cases of multiple paternity, our overall estimate is 56.8% (46 out of 81). Spearman rank-order correlation coefficients revealed that plants growing lower on trees were significantly larger than those higher on the tree and that female plants were significantly larger than male plants. Multivariate analysis showed, however, that the primary determinant underlying these correlations was the larger mean size of females.

Encalypta sylvatica F.J.Shen & J.C.Zhao is a new species found in northern China. This new species is distinguished from other species of the genus Encalypta Hedw. by 1) leaves oblong-ovate to oblong-ligulate, obtuse at the apex, with cells of the upper and median leaf having stellate papillae on the cell walls; 2) calyptra having a smooth surface with basal margins that are somewhat irregular; 3) peristome comprised of a single layer, and an absent preperistome. The distinctiveness of E. sylvatica was assessed by molecular phylogenetic analysis of the rps4 gene sequences. Encalypta sylvatica constitutes a new species under the Gen-Morph species concept and phylogenetic species concept based on its distinctive morphology and phylogenetic isolation.

Herbicides are used extensively to control invasive plants in natural areas but, herbicide application often has undesired effects on non-target plants. Using a lab bioassay, we investigated the impacts of glyphosate and two bioherbicides (cinnamon plus clove oil, and pelargonic acid) on the establishment of bryophyte and fern propagules from an urban woodland park soil propagule bank. Mosses were slower to emerge and establish in soil treated with cinnamon plus clove oil than soil treated with pelargonic acid or glyphosate. Fern gametophyte establishment was negatively affected by glyphosate but not by the two bioherbicides. Results from this study confirmed those of a previous field study indicating that an herbicide containing pelargonic acid could be useful for controlling non-native plants in locations suspected of harboring high biodiversity in soil propagule banks.