Taxonomic insights and new geographic records of Metzgeriaepiphylla A. Evans (Metzgeriales, Metzgeriaceae): A re-assessment based on discoveries in Shennongjia National Park, China.

Background: Metzgeria, a genus established in 1818, has been the subject of various taxonomic studies, with revisions leading to the recognition of several genera within the Metzgeriaceae family. Recent research indicates that Metzgeria constitutes over 98% of the family's species, with broad global distribution.

New information: During a bryophyte survey in Shennongjia National Park, Metzgeriaepiphylla A. Evans was newly recorded in China, expanding the known distribution of this species beyond its previously reported locations in the South Atlantic and South Pacific regions. This represents the first report of M.epiphylla in East Asia, specifically in evergreen broadleaf forest habitats. The discovery contributes new insights into the species' morphology, including variability in thallus shape and reproductive structures, distinguishing it from closely-related taxa. A key to species of Metzgeria from Asia is also given.