Vietnamiella epiphytica – a new genus and species of Anastrophyllaceae (Hepaticae)

Vietnamiella epiphytica gen. et sp. nov. is described based on the results of integrative research including morphological, ecological, phytogeographical and molecular-genetic studies. Superficially the new taxon is similar to some taxa of Andrewsianthus from which, however, it differs in a number of features including ventral intercalary branching, versus dorsal intercalary branches that commonly change into positively geotropic stolons in Andrewsianthus. Moreover, the closest relative of Vietnamiella, placed in Anastrophyllaceae, was found to be Hattoria, which is strikingly different from Vietnamiella, especially in its entire and cup-shaped leaves. The morphological description, figures and differentiations are provided for Vietnamiella.