MILLER, DONNA H. Department of Biology and Environmental Science, University of West Alabama, Livingston, AL 35470. - A review of the synoicous species of Cyclodictyon (Musci).
Over 100 species have been described in the Hookeriaceous genus
Cyclodictyon. Of these, 13 have been described as being synoicous and
included in the present study which represents the first part of a
monograph for the whole genus. Greatest diversity occurs in tropical
Latin America with a second center of speciation in tropical Africa.
A single species with several varieties extends across Malesia from
Tahiti westward to Ceylon and northward into the Philippines and
Taiwan. The Malesian Cyclodictyon blumeanum is synoicous as well as
several species each in continental South America and Africa.
Synoicous species are so far unknown in Central America or the
Antilles. Recognition of taxa depends mainly on combinations of
vegetative characters including size, length-width ratios of leaves,
costal morphology, leaf border morphology and areolation. As a result
of examination of types and other material of synoicous species, 10
are recognized, one is placed in synonymy and 4 have been reduced to
varietal status.
Key words: Cyclodictyon, Hookeriaceae, moss taxonomy, tropical moss