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Tetraplodon paradoxus and T. pallidus (Musci: Splachnaceae) in northern North America

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Abstract

Tetraplodon paradoxus (R.Br.) Hagen was originally described from arctic Canada in 1823 andT. pallidus Hagen, described from arctic Scandinavia in 1893, was reported from the Canadian Arctic Archipelago in 1907. Although the two species are distinct, clear-cut and easily distinguished from other members of the genus, they were almost hopelessly confused both conceptually and nomenclaturally with each other and withT. mnioides (Hedwig) Bruch, Schimper & Gümbel by Hagen in 1910, and his erroneous treatment has been perpetuated by subsequent bryological authors, especially in Scandinavia. Moreover, these two species have been omitted from all comprehensive North American manuals and checklists; the purpose of this paper is to clarify the long-standing confusion and to establish a firm basis for their recognition in the North American bryoflora, from which they have been excluded for far too long. The distinctions between these two species are made clear by means of photographs made from living material, as well as by maps of their geographical distribution in North America.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. New York Botanical Garden, 10458, Bronx, NY

    William Campbell Steere

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  1. William Campbell Steere
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The field and herbarium research which resulted in this paper has been supported since 1951 by numerous grants from the Office of Naval Research, the National Science Foundation and the Arctic Institute of North America.

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Steere, W.C. Tetraplodon paradoxus and T. pallidus (Musci: Splachnaceae) in northern North America. Brittonia 29, 353–367 (1977). https://doi.org/10.2307/2806474

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