Micheline Carvalho-Silva

Taxithelium juruense (Broth.) Broth. (Pylaisiadelphaceae) an endangered Brazilian endemic, with notes on the genus Taxithelium in Brazil

Taxithelium juruense (Broth.) Broth. (Pylaisiadelphaceae) an endangered Brazilian endemic, with notes on the genus Taxithelium in Brazil). Since its original description, several collections of this species were reported in diff erent states of Brazil. During a revision of the genus, it was confi rmed that the geographic range of this species is restricted to the state of Acre, all other reports being based on misidentifi cations due mostly to the highly polymorphic nature of Taxithelium planum (Brid.) Mitt. Here, we present a more detailed study of T. juruense with characters that will help to distinguish it from T. planum. Th e misidentifi cations have obscured the real conservation status of this species, which should be endangered (EN). Key and illustrations of the Brazilian species of Taxithelium are provided.

Systematic position of the moss genus Trachyphyllum A.Gepp (Pylaisiadelphaceae) plus additions to its distribution in the Neotropics

Abstract Representatives of the genus Trachyphyllum are shown to form a monophyletic group. The presence of papillae at both ends of leaf cells, investigated here using SEM, is suggested as a possible synapomorphy. The position of the genus at the family level is discussed and changed to Pylaisiadelphaceae. In addition, the geographic distribution of Trachyphyllum in the New World is updated.

Uma nova espécie e novos nomes em Piper seção Ottonia (Piperaceae) para o Sudeste do Brasil

Trough continuous studies developed on Piperaceae of Brazil, a new species of Piper section Ottonia was found in the Rio Doce State Park. Piper rio-docense is an endemic species to the State of Minas Gerais, this is a very distinctive taxon, especially by its bullate and villous leaves. New names are provided for two species which were included in the genus Ottonia Sprengel: Piper carautensei E.F. Guim. & M. Carvalho-Silva and Piper duartei E.F. Guim. & M. Carvalho-Silva. Ottonia vilosa var. minensis Guimaraes is a new synonym.

The genus Acroporium (Sematophyllaceae) in the neotropics

The genus Acroporium Mitt. is revised for the neotropics. This study recognises only two species for the region Acroporium pungens (Hedw.) Broth. and Acroporium longirostre (Brid.) W.R.Buck. The genus is characterised by the presence of a furrowed exostome and a single tier of inflated alar cells. The remaining species of Acroporium in the neotropics are either synonymised or transferred to other genera. A key, descriptions and illustrations are provided.

The Genus Schroeterella Herzog (Sematophyllaceae) revisited

Abstract The monotypic genus Schroeterella including its species S. zygodonta are known only from thetype collection from Bolivia; we now report a new record from Brazil. Also a new species of Schroeterella from Ecuador is here described. Both species can be differentiated by the shape and size of the capsule and seta length. Schroeterella is very difficult to recognize when sterile, so it is likely to be misidentified.

Morphology and development of leaf papillae in the Pilotrichaceae

Sporophyte morphology has been traditionally used in taxonomic studies of pleurocarpous mosses. However, the gametophyte morphology of the Pilotrichaceae still holds interesting and under-investigated characters. Here, we conducted an in-depth investigation of the morphology and development of Pilotrichaceae leaf papillae and assessed their usefulness in inferring the evolutionary history of the family. Specimens were observed under scanning electron microscopy, and we identified seven morphological types of papillae, as well as two different pathways of development. Our results suggest that papilla morphology and development are phylogenetically informative in the Pilotrichaceae.

A new species of Taxithelium (Pylaisiadelphaceae) from Brazil

Abstract A new species of Taxithelium with a very narrow distribution is found in Brazil in the states of Espírito Santo and Bahia, in the highly threatened Atlantic rainforest. The new species belongs in subgenus Vernieri and can be recognized by its small size and unipapillose perichaetial leaves, among other features.

Pylaisiaceae Schimp. (Bryophyta) revisited

Molecular phylogenetic reconstructions support the monophyly of Pylaisiaceae. The family includes Calliergonella Loeske, Homomallium (Schimp.) Loeske, Pseudohygrohypnum Kanda, Pylaisia Schimp., 2 further genera formerly placed in Hypnaceae, Ectropothecium Mitt. and Vesicularia (Müll.Hal.) Müll.Hal., as well as several species of Hypnum Hedw. recently considered to belong to Stereodon (Brid.) Rchb. Calliergonella, Ectropothecium, Pylaisia, Pseudohygrohypnum and Vesicularia, are monophyletic based on the present data, whereas Homomallium is resolved as a paraphyletic sister group to Pylaisia. Stereodon is excluded from Pylaisiaceae since its type species, S. callichrous (Brid.) Lindb., is resolved outside the Pylaisiaceae clade. Based on morphological and molecular evidence 2 new genera, Roaldia and Buckia, are described to accommodate the former Hypnum (Stereodon) species H. revolutum (Mitt.) Lindb. and H. vaucheri Lesq. respectively. The genus Pseudostereodon (Broth.) M.Fleisch. is re-established to accommodate Hypnum procerrimum Molendo. Morphological descriptions and illustrations of distinctive characters in these 3 taxa are provided and lectotypes for 2 names are designated. New distributional data is also provided for Roaldia new to Guatemala. A key to the genera of Pylaisiaceae is presented.

Typii Sematophyllacearum Brasiliensium: A catalogue of Brazilian types of Sematophyllaceae (Bryophyta)

A catalogue of all the names of Sematophyllaceae that have been cited or known to occur in Brazil have been located and is presented here.

New goats on the island

Trindade is an oceanic island located ca. 1200 km east of the Brazilian coast with only 65% of its original vegetation cover remaining. Devastation was mainly caused by the presence of goats for a long time. Since goats were eliminated in 2005 the island vegetation is going through a recovering process. However during a visit to the island in 2012 another threat to the vegetation was noted: a Leguminosae species is spreading and killing part of the endemic herbaceous vegetation of Cyperus atlanticus.