Wednesday, August 30, 2023

[Botany • 2023] A New Subfamily Calasterelloideae and New Genus Calasterella for a phylogenetically and morphologically distinct member of the Aytoniaceae


Calasterella californica (Hampe ex Austin) D.G.Long & T.X.Zheng, 

in Long et Zheng, 2023.

 Abstract
Based on a phylogenetically and morphologically distinct species, a new genus Calasterella is established. A new subfamily, Calasterelloideae, is also proposed to contain this genus.

Keywords: Marchantiales, taxonomy, systematics, bryophytes 

Calasterella californica (Hampe ex Austin) D.G.Long & T.X.Zheng
(≡ Asterella californica (Hampe ex Austin) Underw.).  

 Calasterella californica (Hampe ex Austin) D.G.Long & T.X.Zheng.
 A: Immature carpocephalum from below showing deeply cleft involucres with overlapping margins of cleft. B: Mature carpocephalum from below showing pseudoperianths and dehisced sporophyte with lemon-yellow spores.
C: Scanning Electron Micrographs of the spores, distal face. D: Scanning Electron Micrographs of the spores, proximal face.
Arrow heads: involucre. Arrow: spores. 
Scale bars: A, 2 mm; B, 1 mm; C, D: 20 μm. [A: D.G. Long 45940 (E). B: D.G. Long 45333 (E). C, D: D. G. Long et al. 44666 (E)]
 
Calasterelloideae T.X.Zheng & D.G.Long subfam. nov.  

includes one genus, Calasterella D.G.Long & T.X.Zheng, gen. nov.

Diagnosis: Differs from Aytonioideae and Reboulioideae by the following combination: dioicous sexuality; strictly dichotomous branching pattern; ventral tissue with mucilage cavities; up to four appendages of ventral scale; deeplylobed female receptacle with pseudoperianths and involucre cleft to base; lemon-yellow spores with conspicuous trilete ridges, prominent equatorial wing, similar ornamentation on proximal and distal surfaces, lacking large areolae but with fine network of alveolae.

Type: Calasterella D.G.Long & T.X.Zheng, gen. nov.

Type species: Calasterella californica (Hampe ex Austin) D.G.Long & T.X.Zheng comb. nov. 
(≡ Fimbraria californica Hampe ex Austin, Hepat. bor.-amer. 33, 1873). 
≡ Asterella californica (Hampe ex Austin)

Etymology: The genus is named by the combination of the abbreviation of its main distribution region “California”,and the previous placement “Asterella”. 


Calasterella californica (Hampe ex Austin) D.G.Long & T.X.Zheng, comb. nov.

  
David G. Long and Tian-Xiong Zheng. 2023. A New Subfamily Calasterelloideae and New Genus Calasterella for a phylogenetically and morphologically distinct member of the Aytoniaceae.  Phytotaxa. 606(3); 225-230. DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.606.3.6