Schistidium austrosibiricum sp. nov. and S. scabripilum sp. nov. (Grimmiaceae, Bryophyta) – two closely related species from Asian Russia

Two new species of moss, Schistidium austrosibiricum and S. scabripilum, were identified from Asian Russia using genetic analysis (nrDNA ITS1-2 sequences) to distinguish them from morphologically similar species. S. austrosibiricum was previously confused with S. sinensiapocarpum due to shared characteristics like long, sharply serrate hair-points and papillose dorsal costa, but differs in leaf size, shape, and areolation. Meanwhile, S. scabripilum was misclassified as S. echinatum due to similarities in hair-point structure, though molecular data revealed distinct clades and distribution patterns. The study provides detailed descriptions, illustrations, and ecological data for these species, highlighting their unique traits and geographic ranges—S. austrosibiricum is restricted to southern mountain regions of Asian Russia, while S. scabripilum is found in northern Asia, including the Putorana Plateau.

Ignatova, E. A., Blom, H. H., & Kuznetsova, O. I. (2016). Schistidium austrosibiricum sp. nov. and S. scabripilum sp. nov. (Grimmiaceae, Bryophyta) – two closely related species from Asian Russia. Arctoa, 25(1), 107–115. https://doi.org/10.15298/arctoa.25.08