Integrative Taxonomic Revision of Marsupella (Gymnomitriaceae, Hepaticae) Reveals Neglected Diversity in Pacific Asia

ABSTRACT Molecular phylogenetic study of the genus Marsupella based on the dataset enriched by morphologically diverse specimens from Pacific Asia, the region with highest diversity of the genus, but still underexplored, reveals three new species: northern Indochinese M. vietnamica Bakalin & Fedosov, sp. nov., strictly Korean M. koreana Bakalin & Fedosov, sp. nov., and disjunctive amphi-Atlantic-amphi-Pacific M. subemarginata Bakalin & Fedosov, sp. nov. Furthermore, obtained results suggest that some infraspecific taxa deserve species level recognition, thus, two new combinations are introduced: Japanese M. patens (N.Kitag.) Bakalin & Fedosov, comb. nov., stat. nov., and East to South-East Asian–Papuasian M. vermiformis (R.M.Schust.) Bakalin & Fedosov, comb. nov., stat. nov. The species status for M. apertifolia is confirmed. The subgeneric system that implies 5 sections within the genus Marsupella (one founded on a new combination) is proposed based on the obtained topology. The key to identify all worldwide recognized Marsupella is provided. Our results indicate that distribution patterns (“geographic species concept”) may help to reveal taxa of species rank within the “integrative taxonomy” conception.