Andreaea barbarae (Andreaeaceae, Bryophytina), a new moss species from Lesotho

Abstract

Specimens of Andreaea sect. Andreaea collected in Lesotho show morphological differences from the remaining Sub-Saharan Africa species in the group. Particularly, Lesotho specimens have much larger spores, a character diagnostic in the genus. Spore size also separates the Lesotho specimens from typical A. rupestris from the Northern Hemisphere. Consequently, we describe a new species from the highlands of Lesotho (Andreaea barbarae). Additionally, we present a taxonomic key to all accepted species of Andreaea sect. Andreaea in sub-Saharan Africa.