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Leiodontium geminoserratum S. He & Chantanaorr. (Hypnaceae), a new species from Thailand, is described herein based on distinctive morphological features. The new species resembles L. gracile Broth. from China and Nepal, but differs most notably in having moderately complanate leafy stems and branches, prorate laminal cells, doubly serrate basal leaf margin, and axillary hairs with a globose distal cell. A full description and photographs of the new species are provided.

Taxiphyllum arcuatum (Bosch & Sande Lac.) S.He is transferred to Isodrepanium based on morphological and molecular data. The systematic position of Isodrepanium is discussed in the present paper. Isodrepanium may not be placed into Neckeraceae; however, its exact systematic position has not been resolved and requires further study.

Phylogenetic analyses of the Hypnales usually show the same picture of poorly resolved trees with a large number of polyphyletic taxa and low support for the few reconstructed clades. One odd clade, however, consisting of three genera that are currently treated either within the Leskeaceae (Miyabea) or Neckeraceae (Homaliadelphus and Bissetia), was retrieved in a previously published phylogeny based on chloroplast rbcL. In order to elucidate the reliability of the observed Homaliadelphus - Miyabea - Bissetia -clade (HMB-clade) and to reveal its phylogenetic relationships a molecular study based on a representative set of hypnalean taxa was performed. Sequence data from all three genomes, namely the ITS1 and 2 (nuclear), the trnS-rps4-trnT-trnL-trnF cluster (plastid), the nad5 intron (mitochondrial), were analyzed. Although the phylogenetic reconstruction of the combined data set was not fully resolved regarding the backbone it clearly indicated the polyphyletic nature of various hypnalean families, such as the Leskeaceae, Hypnaceae, Hylocomiaceae, Neckeraceae, Leptodontaceae and Anomodontaceae with respect to the included taxa. In addition the results favor the inclusion of the Leptodontaceae and Thamnobryaceae in the Neckeraceae. The maximally supported HMB-clade consisting of the three genera Homaliadelphus (2–3 species), Miyabea (3 species) and Bissetia (1 species) is resolved sister to a so far unnamed clade comprising Taxiphyllum aomoriense, Glossadelphus ogatae and Leptopterigynandrum. The well-resolved and supported HMB-clade, here formally described as the Miyabeaceae, fam. nov. is additionally supported by morphological characters such as strongly incrassate, porose leaf cells, a relatively weak and diffuse costa and the presence of dwarf males. The latter are absent in the Neckeraceae and the Leskeaceae. It is essentially an East Asian family, with one species occurring in North America.

Results from our analysis of chloroplast trnL-trnF and nuclear ITS1 and ITS2 sequence data and 35 morphological characters for 134 taxa of pleurocarpous mosses provide an evidence for resurrecting two moss families, Pseudoleskeaceae and Pylaisiaceae. Both these families were described by Schimper in 1860, but soon afterwards included in Leskeaceae and Hypnaceae, respectively, and apparently never used in the$20^{{\\rm th}}$century. However, sequence-level data analysis (chloroplast encoded trnL intron and trnL-trnF spacer, nuclear encoded ITS1 & ITS2), and combined molecular and morphological analysis demonstrate the remote position of (1) the Lescuraea-group from the main part of Leskeaceae; and (2) a group of species belonging to Pylaisia, Homomallium and Hypnum (sections others than sect. Hypnum) from Hypnum sect. Hypnum (with H. cupressiforme as the type of the genus).

During the taxonomic revision of Taxithelium Spruce ex Mitt. (Pylaisiadelphaceae), species previously treated in the genus are excluded, and eight new combinations are presented here: Camptochaete novae-zeelandiae (E. B. Bartram & Dixon) P. E. A. S. Câmara, Chaetomitrium spuriosubtile (Broth.) P. E. A. S. Câmara, Phyllodon bilobatus (Dixon) P. E. A. S. Câmara, P. choiropyxis (Müll. Hal.) P. E. A. S. Câmara, P. glossoides (Bosch & Sande Lac.) P. E. A. S. Câmara, Sematophyllum borneense (Broth.) P. E. A. S. Câmara, S. mundulum (Sull.) P. E. A. S. Câmara, and Trichosteleum friedense (D. H. Norris & T. J. Kop.) P. E. A. S. Câmara. The new name Sematophyllum laevigatum P. E. A. S. Câmara is proposed for Hypnum trachaelocarpum Ångstr. Lectotypifications are also provided for Sigmatella choiropyxis Müll. Hal. and Hypnum trachaelocarpum Ångstr.

A new species, Taxiphyllum townsendii Ochyra & Ireland (Hypnaceae, Musci), is described from Sri Lanka. The species was earlier known under the name Plagiothecium ceylonense Brotherus ex Dixon, but this name was not validly published and therefore a new name is needed. Taxiphyllum townsendii is similar in many ways to the common eastern North American species, T. deplanatum (Bruch & Schimper ex Sullivant) M. Fleischer, but differs by its larger, often oblong-lanceolate leaves that are abruptly or gradually short- or long-acuminate; much longer and narrower mid-leaf cells; short-rectangular, very broad basal leaf cells that form a distinct 1- to 2-seriate strip at the leaf insertion; and a prominent angular group of large quadrate to short-rectangular cells that extend up the margins by four to 10 cells. Taxiphyllum subretusum (Thwaites & Mitten) O'Shea is transferred to the genus Phyllodon Schimper as P. subretusus (Thwaites & Mitten) Ochyra & Ireland and the name is lectotypified. The validity of the name Entodon isopterygioides (Dixon) Dixon is discussed and this name is considered to be validly published.

Asulox is a herbicide used to control bracken. Its effects on mosses were investigated to ascertain whether exposure proved as detrimental as found in parallel studies on pteridophytes. Mature gametophytes of 18 mosses were exposed to a range of concentrations of Asulox under standard conditions and the effects on growth monitored. Plants were cut to a standard length, exposed to Asulox solution for 24 h, grown for 3 weeks and total elongation (main stem and branches) measured. EC50 values were calculated and species ranked according to sensitivity. The effects of exposure on total elongation were compared with those on main stem elongation alone. Under the conditions tested, the total elongation of all species was inhibited after exposure to Asulox. The amount of elongation observed after exposure was different for different species and inhibition of elongation occurred at different exposure concentrations. A single regression equation was not adequate to describe the dose response curves of all species tested. An ability to produce secondary branches may confer increased tolerance to Asulox exposure. It is concluded that mosses suffer detrimental effects after exposure to Asulox at concentrations similar to those that affect fern gametophytes such as bracken.

Pylaisiopsis (Broth.) Broth. is revised based on the molecular phylogenetic analysis and detailed morphological investigation. The genus is considered to be synonymous with Pylaisia (Hypnaceae). An older combination, Pylaisia speciosa (Mitt.) Wilson ex A. Jaeger, is selected for Pylaisiopsis speciosa (Mitt.) Broth. A description and illustrations of the species are provided. The taxonomic position of Foreauella orthothecia (Schwägr.) Dixon & P. de la Varde is also discussed.

Aim Hong Kong is in a biogeographically interesting location on the northern margins of the Asian tropics. This paper analyzes the phytogeography of Hong Kong's bryophyte flora for the first time. Location Hong Kong lies on the South China coast, 22°9′-22°37′ N, 113°52′-114°30′ E. It is one of the most densely populated places in the world, but because of the rugged topography only 20% of the total land area of 1100 km² is urbanized. Although 130 km south of the Tropic of Cancer, it has a subtropical climate with distinct hot, humid and cool, dry seasons. Methods The analysis is based on a new and relatively complete inventory of Hong Kong's bryoflora. Each taxon was assigned to a phytogeographical pattern on the basis of its present worldwide distribution. Krober's percentage similarity was employed to evaluate the floristic affinities between different regions. Results The bryophyte flora consists of at least 360 species and twelve infraspecific taxa in 159 genera and seventy families, of which four taxa are locally endemic. The largest families are Lejeuneaceae (fifty-one taxa), Fissidentaceae (28), Hypnaceae (21), Dicranaceae (20), Calymperaceae (18), and Sematophyllaceae (15). The largest genera are Fissidens (28), Cololejeunea (17), Lejeunea (10), Syrrhopodon (9), Frullania (8), and Macromitrium (8). Fourteen phytogeographical patterns are recognized. The East Asian pattern is the commonest (seventy-three taxa, 19.6%), followed by Asian-Australian-Oceanian (45, 12.1%) and Temperate (44, 11.8%). Overall, a third of taxa have tropical distributions. The bryofloras of eleven regions were compared with that of Hong Kong. The most similar regions are Hainan Province, Taiwan Province, and Japan. Mosses and liverworts show very similar phytogeographical distributions. Main conclusions (1) The Hong Kong bryoflora is best described as northern marginal tropical, with a strong Eastern Asian and Temperate influence; (2) the region of closest phytogeographical affinity for which information is available is Hainan; (3) in comparison with vascular plants, vertebrates and those invertebrate groups for which there is information, the bryoflora has a relatively low proportion of tropical taxa; (4) the bryoflora of Hong Kong appears to be exceptionally rich for its small area.

A new species, Pseudotaxiphyllum obtusifolium Z. Iwatsuki & B. C. Tan (Hypnaceae, Musci), is described. This moss species is related to P. pohliaecarpum (Sullivant & Lesquereux) Z. Iwatsuki, which is widely distributed in East Asia. The two most remarkable characters distinguishing this new species from P. pohliaecarpum are the shape of leaf apices, which in the former are widely obtuse to round, and also the larger laminal cells in the new species.