A revision of New Zealand Porella (Porellaceae: Marchantiophyta) integrating morphological and molecular evidence

Matthew A M Renner; David S Glenny

doi:10.7751/telopea21668

Authors

Matthew A M Renner National Herbarium of New South Wales https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2286-7257
David S Glenny Auckland War Memorial Museum https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8064-6308

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7751/telopea21668

Keywords:

Porella, New Zealand, New species, Taxonomy, Systematics, Cryptogams, Porellaceae, Marchantiophyta

Abstract

Patterns of morphological variation in New Zealand Porella L. are complex. Intra-specific morphological variation has at least five contributing factors, including pronounced sexual dimorphism, substrate contact, hierarchical substructure, allometry and developmental stochasticity. The complexities introduced by these factors are unprecedented, and in part explain previous treatments of New Zealand plants as belonging to a single variable species. Morphological and molecular evidence support the recognition of six Porella species in New Zealand, P. amoena (Colenso) E.A.Hodgs., P. atroviridis Glenny & M.A.M.Renner sp. nov., P. elegantula (Mont.) E.A.Hodgs., P. pacifica M.A.M.Renner sp. nov., P. pulcherrima S.Hatt., and P. robusta M.A.M.Renner & Glenny sp. nov. These six species differ in details of leaf, lobule, and underleaf size, shape, and pouch production, patterns of male branch production and male bract form, female bract shape and dentition, and in shoot architecture. Most diagnostic characters can only be accessed by dissection, which is essential for accurate identification. The six species exhibit ecological and geographic differences. Porella atroviridis is restricted to the eastern sides of the North and South Islands, and the Chatham Islands, always in association with sites underlain by cation-rich bedrock. Porella pulcherrima occurs on the drier eastern side of New Zealand, in association with a wide range of bedrock types, and may grow above the treeline. Porella elegantula occurs in cold-temperate, hyper-humid forests and scrubs throughout New Zealand, though it is uncommon in the northern half of the North Island. Porella amoena and P. robusta are widely distributed in cool and warm temperate rainforests. Porella pacifica occurs in the New Zealand Botanical Region only on the Kermadec Islands, but is also in Fiji and may prove more widespread across islands of the South Pacific. Four other species are all endemic to New Zealand. Porella elegantula has been reported from Norfolk Island, however, this report is unlikely given the distribution and ecology resolved for P. elegantula in New Zealand, and critical re-appraisal of Australian material attributed to P. elegantula is warranted.

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