David Glenny

Plant dispersal N.E.W.S from New Zealand.

Although New Zealand separated from Gondwana during the late Cretaceous (80 million years ago) it shares strong floristic affinities with other Southern Hemisphere landmasses. For 150 years, biogeographers have debated whether these similarities reflect the ancient Gondwanan connection or subsequent dispersal events. Molecular phylogenies are providing new insights into the history of Southern Hemisphere plant groups. These studies show that many plant lineages are recent arrivals in New Zealand, diversifying rapidly and then travelling to other Southern Hemisphere landmasses.

World checklist of hornworts and liverworts

Abstract A working checklist of accepted taxa worldwide is vital in achieving the goal of developing an online flora of all known plants by 2020 as part of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation. We here present the first-ever worldwide checklist for liverworts (Marchantiophyta) and hornworts (Anthocerotophyta) that includes 7486 species in 398 genera representing 92 families from the two phyla. The checklist has far reaching implications and applications, including providing a valuable tool for taxonomists and systematists, analyzing phytogeographic and diversity patterns, aiding in the assessment of floristic and taxonomic knowledge, and identifying geographical gaps in our understanding of the global liverwort and hornwort flora. The checklist is derived from a working data set centralizing nomenclature, taxonomy and geography on a global scale. Prior to this effort a lack of centralization has been a major impediment for the study and analysis of species richness, conservation and systematic research at both regional and global scales. The success of this checklist, initiated in 2008, has been underpinned by its community approach involving taxonomic specialists working towards a consensus on taxonomy, nomenclature and distribution.

Phylogenetic relationships in Australasian Gnaphalieae (Compositae) inferred from ITS sequences

Abstract Analyses of ITS sequences of Australasian Gnaphalieae reveal at least six distinct lineages of Gnaphalieae in New Zealand. Our results suggest that the New Zealand species of Craspedia form a monophyletic group, which originated in Australia. The stoloniferous species of Euchiton are clearly separated from the non‐stoloniferous species. They are not closely related to any other New Zealand gnaphalioid taxon. The Australian species of Ewartia are a polyphyletic group and are not closely related to the sole New Zealand species, Ewartia sinclairii. An almost endemic New Zealand Glade consists of species currently included in Anaphalioides, Ewartia, Helichrysum, Leucogenes, Rachelia, and Raoulia. It appears that the New Zealand Glade diversified rapidly soon after the arrival of its ancestor in New Zealand. The relationships of Ozothamnus leptophyllus are poorly resolved. Pseudognaphalium luteoalbum emerges with mainly Asian and South American Gnaphalieae.

Checklist of dicotyledons, gymnosperms, and pteridophytes naturalised or casual in New Zealand: Additional records 1997–1998

Abstract New records of fully naturalised and casual plants are reported for the flora of New Zealand during the 3‐year period 2001–2003. Ten species are reported as additional or newly substantiated fully naturalised, 92 taxa are considered to be new records of casual plants, and 13 additional species that were previously known from few collections are given extended distributions.

Transantarctic disjunctions in Schistochilaceae (Marchantiophyta) explained by early extinction events, post-Gondwanan radiations and palaeoclimatic changes

The liverworts are the first diverging land plant group with origins in the Ordovician. The family Schistochilaceae exhibits diverse morphology and widely disjunct geographic ranges within the Southern Hemisphere. The family has been presented as a classic example of Gondwanan biogeographic distribution, with extant species ranges resulting from vicariance events. In this study, we present results that elucidate the origin and diversification of Schistochilaceae. We conducted a comprehensive time-calibrated, molecular-based phylogenetic analysis and different approaches for ancestral range inference of the family. Schistochilaceae is inferred to have originated in the Late Cretaceous, in an ancestral area including southern South America, West Antarctica and New Zealand. Despite a family origin at c. 100Ma, most of the diversification of Schistochilaceae occurred in New Zealand after the 80Ma opening of the Tasman Sea that isolated New Zealand from the rest of Gondwana. Most dispersals were transoceanic. The northward migration of the Schistochilaceae is probably linked with the spread of temperate vascular plant forest ecosystems that have Late Cretaceous southern origins and have maintained suitable environments for the family throughout the Cenozoic. The distribution and biogeographic history of the family is very similar to that of Nothofagaceae.

A revision of the genus Gentianella in New Zealand

Abstract Previous work on Gentianella and related genera is reviewed, particularly the taxonomic history of the New Zealand gentians and their generic placement. Phylogenetic analysis of DNA sequences shows the New Zealand gentians belong in Gentianella. The recently described Australasian genus Chionogentias is preceded by earlier names applied to South American species that belong in a Southern Hemisphere clade. Thirty species are recognised, including seven new species (G. angustifolia, G. calcis, G. decum‐bens, G. luteoalba, G. impressinervia, G. scopulo‐rum, and G. stellata), and one species (G. magnifica), raised from varietal status. The identity of G. patula is clarified and the specific status of G. amabilis is affirmed. Thirteen subspecies are recognised, including a new subspecies within G. astonii (subsp. arduana), and four within a new calcicole species G. calcis (subspp. calcis, waipara, manahune, taiko). New subspecies are also made in G. corymbifera (subsp. gracilis), G. montana (subsp. ionostigma), and G. chathamica (subsp. nemorosa). G. montana var. stolonifera is the only existing variety this treatment continues to recognise. Four previously recognised species are reduced to synonymy (G. gracilifolia, G. matthewsii, G. tereticaulis, and G. townsonii). Descriptions and keys are provided for all species and subspecies recognised. Evidence is limited, but Gentianella appears to have arrived in New Zealand from South America either once or twice, and has probably dispersed once from New Zealand to Australia. The place of the first establishment of Gentianella in New Zealand appears to be in the southern half of the South Island. An initial radiation in the lower South Island was followed by northward range extensions and dispersal events. A second radiation occurred in the Nelson and Marlborough mountains.

Checklist of dicotyledons and pteridophytes naturalised or casual in New Zealand: Additional records 1994–1996

Abstract Six taxa are reported as additional or newly substantiated naturalised records for the weed flora of New Zealand during the 3‐year period 1994–1996. Thirty‐six species are considered to be new records of casual adventive plants. Eleven additional species that were previously poorly known are given extended distributions. Most records are in the Fabaceae (6).

Perssoniella and the genera of Schistochilaceae: a new classification based on molecular phylogenies

The monotypic genus Perssoniella with P. vitreocincta Herzog, endemic to New Caledonia, possesses a series of unique morphological characters and it has been assumed that the genus, assigned to the family Perssoniellaceae and suborder Perssoniellineae, is very isolated but sister to the family Schistochilaceae. The systematic identity of Perssoniella vitreocincta was studied using DNA sequence data for the chloroplast rbcL, rps4 and trnL-F regions. Our analyses placed Perssoniella vitreocincta within the family Schistochilaceae, and within Schistochila itself, with strong support. It suggests that retaining Perssoniella as an independent genus is untenable and we transfer it to the genus Schistochila. Our results indicate that Perssoniella vitreocincta is not an archaic species, as presupposed earlier. The differentiating characters in Perssoniella are mostly probably later derived, rather than ancestral. Our analyses also placed Pachyschistochila and Paraschistochila within Schistochila, again with strong support. We also transfer these two genera to Schistochila.

The systematic identity of Chiloscyphus trichocoleoides, a new liverwort species from New Zealand, uncovered by morphological and molecular evidence

Abstract A new liverwort species from Western Nelson Ecological Province of New Zealand known from a single sterile specimen is described. It is unusual in having well-developed stem paraphyllia, and the leaves and underleaves are divided with three levels of ciliate division in a pinnate manner. This morphology suggested membership of Trichocoleaceae or Trichotemnomaceae, but other features of the plant made placement in either family seem unnatural. We determined its position by conducting phylogenetic analyses of rbcL, rps4 and trnL–F sequence datasets from 35 exemplars, and further confirmation of the position was carried out by an extended analysis using rbcL sequence dataset of 59 exemplars. The surprising result is that it belongs within the genus Chiloscyphus, where it is unique in these features. We describe this new species as Chiloscyphus trichocoleoides. Placing the new species in Chiloscyphus has broadened the generic concept of Chiloscyphus, and its phylogenetic relationship within and to other genera such as Clasmatocolea and Heteroscyphus needs further investigation. The results also show that the same morphological features seen in Chiloscyphus and in Trichocoleaceae and Trichotemnomaceae have developed independently.

A new Cheilolejeunea Marchantiopsida: Lejeuneaceae from montane forests in New Zealand

Abstract Cheilolejeunea celata M.Renner & Glenny sp. nov., a minute species from high elevation (generally >600 m), high rainfall forests on the wetter, western side of New Zealand, is described and illustrated. It is similar to Cheilolejeunea novaezelandiae R.M. Schust. in its dome-shaped papillae on the lobe surface and its autoicous state, but differs in bearing papillae over the entire lobe surface and on the underleaves, in having narrower underleaves that are never imbricate and have a narrow sinus, and in growing primarily in forest, on the stems of other bryophyte species. In its combination of oblique lobes, strongly inflated keel, and bifid underleaves, the species provides further support for the recent merger of Cyrtolejeunea into Cheilolejeunea.