Data to the Malaysian Liverwort Flora, IV: a New Species of Mastigopelma Mitt. (Lepidoziaceae) from Cameron Highlands, Peninsular Malaysia

Abstract

The new species, Mastigopelma latiffiana G. E. Lee, E. Pesiu et X. L. He, discovered in Pen-insular Malaysia, is described and illustrated as a new addition to the genus Mastigopelma Mitt., of the family Lepidoziaceae. The new species is corticolous, growing on a tree branch in a moist montane forest in Cameron Highlands, Pahang, at 1,900 m alt. It is characterised by the leafy shoots arising from stolons, branches, when present, all ventral-intercalary, and terminal branching lacking; asymmetrical leaves with almost straight ventral margins, rounded to truncate leaf apices, entire-margined leaves, thickened cell walls with nodular trigones, and glistening-homogeneous oil bodies (2–4 per cell); and retuse to blunt teethed underleaf apices. This discovery has increased the total number of known species of Mastigopelma Mitt. to five. An identification key to all the species of the genus is presented.