New taxa of Sematophyllum and Wijkia (Musci: Sematophyllaceae), with a key to New Zealand Sematophyllaceae

Abstract The regional taxa of Sematophyllaceae have been reviewed in preparation for a florisitic treatment of the New Zealand mosses. A new species from Fiordland and Stewart Island is described as Sematophyllum fiordensis sp. nov. and Sematophyllum kirkii (Beckett) Paris, a species neglected in New Zealand for over 80 years, is resurrected. It is distributed on several of New Zealand's southern offshore islands, with The Snares as its type locality. Finally, a distinctive form of Wijkia extenuata (Brid.) H.A. Crum, with abundant microphyllous branches, weakly differentiated stem and branch leaves, irregular or subpinnate (not bipinnate) branching, nearly entire branch leaf margins, and a lack of laminal cell pores is described as a variety from the Raukoōkore River in the Bay of Plenty Region. Wijkia extenuata var. caudata, var. nov. is widespread in the North Island, and from the Nelson area of the South Island. It appears to be the only variety of W. extenuata on the Kermadec Islands. Illustrations an...