Taxonomy and classification of the moss family Mniaceae (s.lat.)

Timo Koponen

My studies for revising the moss family Mniaceae began in 1964. At first I concentrated on the problems of species level. However, the first major publication (1968) dealt with the generic classification of the family and especially the division of the large genus Mnium into several smaller genera. In that study, the cladistic methods created by W. Hennig were first time used in botany.

Field studies

In 1970–71 I stayed in Japan, at Hiroshima University with prof. H. Ando, and at Hattori Botanical Laboratory with Dr. Z. Iwatsuki, and had the opportunity to travel widely in Japan and study the mosses of Mniaceae in the field. This was extremely necessary for understanding the specific variation especially in Plagiomnium sect. Rostrata. In 1971–72 I had the possibility to stay for one year at National Sciece Museum of Canada, Ottawa, with Dr. R. Ireland. Again, field research was carried out in many parts of Canada and U.S.A. Later, in 1981, I was in New Guinea together with Dr. D. H. Norris, and in 1981–1999 made several excursions to China.

Herbarium studies

The collections in H and especially in H-BR and H-SOL contain large collections of Mniaceae and especially many type specimens are available there. I also visited other large herbaria such as BM, LE, NY, P and S-PA to study type specimens and also for studing the distribution of the species. Until now most of the types of the species of Mniaceae have been studied.

Results

The results of these studies have been published in a large number of papers (listed below). Some of them are short nomenclatural or floristic reports. For instance, under the common heading “Miscellaneous notes on the Mniaceae (Bryophyta)” 16 contributions were published. Taxonomic revisions of some genera or sections were also published, such as the genus Rhizomnium in Japan and in North America, Plagiomnium sect. Rostrata in Asia, and world monographs of Plagiomnium sect. Rosulata and genus Orthomnion. Areal revisions were published for  e.g. Taiwan, Canada and Japan. Under the title “A synopsis of Mniaceae (Bryophyta)” the taxa, their nomenclature, taxonomy and distribution in each continent were summarized.

Now under research

The large Mniaceae collections from the Hunan Province of China (see the project “The bryophyte flora of Hunan province”) were identified and will be hopefully published soon. In that connection the Mniaceae (s.lat.) flora for China will be revised. Also, I have studied large Himalayan collections by G. Miehe and his collaborators, and those by D. Long, and this enables me to write a summary of the Mniaceae flora of the Himalayan areas.

Pseudobryum cinclidioides

Publications

Generic taxonomy and phylogeny

Koponen, T. 1968: Generic revision of Mniaceae Mitt. (Bryophyta). - Ann. Bot. Fennici 5: 117-151.  - Academic dissertation. (Reprinted in: Duncan, T. & Stuessy, T. F. (eds.) 1985, Cladistic theory and methodology: 103-137. Van Nostrand Reinhold Company, New York).
Koponen, T. 1972: Speciation on the Mniaceae. - J. Hattori Bot. Lab. 35: 142-154.
Koponen, T. 1982: Generic and family concepts in the Mniaceae. - Nova Hedwigia Beih. 71: 249-259.
Koponen, T. 1988: The phylogeny and classification of Mniaceae and Rhizogoniaceae (Musci). - J. Hattori Bot. Lab. 64: 37-46.

Taxonomic revisions

Koponen, T. 1971: A report on Rhizomnium (Mniaceae) in Japan. - J. Hattori Bot. Lab. 34: 365-390.
Koponen, T. 1971: A monograph of Plagiomnium sect. Rosulata (Mniaceae). - Ann. Bot. Fennici 8: 305-367.
Koponen, T. 1972: The East Asiatic species of Plagiomnium sect. Rostrata (Bryophyta). - Acta Bot. Fennica 97: 1-29.
Koponen, T. 1973: Rhizomnium (Mniaceae) in North America. - Ann. Bot. Fennici 10: 1-26.

Areal revisions

Koponen, T. 1971: Keys for the Mniaceae in Taiwan. - Ann. Bot. Fennici 8: 297-304.
Koponen, T. 1973: A preliminary report on the Mniaceae in Japan I. - Hikobia 6: 185-202.
Koponen, T. 1974: A guide to the Mniaceae in Canada. - Lindbergia 2: 160-184.
Koponen, T. 1974: A preliminary report on the Mniaceae in Japan. II. - Hikobia 7: 1-19.
Koponen, T. 1982: The family Mniaceae in Australasia and the Pacific. - J. Hattori Bot. Lab. 52: 75-86.
Koponen, T. 1993: Fam. XV. Mniaceae, XVI. Cinclidiaceae, XVII Plagiomniaceae. - In: Nyholm, E. (ed.), Illustrated flora of Nordic mosses. Fasc. 3: 222-244. - Nordic Bryological Society, Copenhagen and Lund.
Koponen, T. 1994: Mniaceae. - In Sharp, A. J., Crum, H. & Eckel, P. M. (eds.), The moss flora of Mexico. Part 1. Sphagnales to Bryales. - Memoirs New York. Bot Garden 69: 529-535.
Koponen, T. & Norris, D. H. 1983: Bryophyte flora of the Huon Peninsula, Papua New Guinea. II. Mniaceae (Musci). - Ann. Bot. Fennici 20: 31-40.

“A synopsis of Mniaceae (Bryophyta)”

Koponen, T. 1979: A synopsis of Mniaceae (Bryophyta). I. South and Central American taxa. - J. Hattori Bot. Lab. 46: 155-161.
Koponen, T. 1980: A synopsis of Mniaceae (Bryophyta). II. Orthomnion. - Ann. Bot. Fennici 17: 35-55.
Koponen, T. 1980: A synopsis of Mniaceae (Bryophyta). III. Carl Müller's underscribed and dubious names. - Ann. Bot. Fennici 17: 61-64.
Koponen, T. 1980: A synopsis of Mniaceae (Bryophyta). IV. Taxa in Europe, Macaronesia, NW Africa and the Near East. - Ann. Bot. Fennici 17: 125-162.
Koponen, T. 1981: A synopsis of Mniaceae (Bryophyta): V. Taxa in Africa South of the Sahara. - Ann. Bot. Fennici 18: 105-111.
Koponen, T. 1981:  A synopsis of Mniaceae (Bryophyta). VI. Southeast Asian taxa. - Acta Bot. Fennica 117: 1-34.
Koponen, T. 1981: A synopsis of the Mniaceae (Bryophyta). VII. List of species and their distribution. - Ann. Bot. Fennici 18: 113-115.
Koponen, T. 1983: A synopsis of Mniaceae (Bryophyta). VIII. Taxa in Australia and New Zealand. - Ann. Bot. Fennici 20: 101-104.

Specific taxonomy and nomenclature

Koponen, T. 1967: The typification of Mnium affine Funck and M. medium Bruch, Schimp. et Gümb. - Ann. Bot. Fennici 4: 64-66.
Koponen, T. 1968: The moss genus Rhizomnium (Broth.) Kop., with description of R. perssonii, species nova. - Memoranda Soc. Fauna Flora Fennica 44: 33-50.
Koponen, T. 1969: The Taxonomic Status and Typification of Mnium subpunctatum. - Bryologist 72: 61-62.
Koponen, T. 1971: A preliminary report on Plagiomnium sect. Rostrata in Asia. - Hikobia 6: 57-58.
Koponen, T. 1972: Notes on Mnium arizonicum and M. thomsonii. - Lindbergia 1: 161-165.
Koponen, T. 1973: On Rhizomnium (Mniaceae) in east Asia: R. parvulum, R. horikawae and Mnium reticulatum. - Ann. Bot. Fennici 10: 265-266.
Koponen, T. 1974: On Plagiomnium (Mniaceae) in East Asia: P. rhynchophorum, P. elimbatum and Mnium burmense. - Ann. Bot. Fennici 11: 94.
Koponen, T. 1975: Plagiomnium acutum, comb. nova (Musci, Mniaceae). - Ann. Bot. Fennici 12: 57-58.
Koponen, T. 2007: Orthomnion  wui (Mniaceae, Musci), a new species from Hubei Province, China. — Ann. Bot. Fennici 44: 376–378.
Koponen, T. & Sérgio, C. 2001: Solving the identity of large Plagiomnium (Musci) from Madeira (Portugal): P. undulatum var. madeirense T. Kop. & C. Sérgio. - Crypt. Bryol. 22: 13-18.
Wyatt, R., Odrzykoski, I. J., & Koponen, T. 1997: Mnium orientale sp. nov from Japan is morphologically and genetically distinct from M. hornum in Europe and North America. - Bryologist 100: 226-236.

“Miscellaneous notes on the Mniaceae (Bryophyta)”

Koponen, T. 1977: Miscellaneous notes on Mniaceae (Bryophyta). I. New combinations. - Ann. Bot. Fennici 14: 6.
Koponen, T. 1977: Miscellaneous notes on Mniaceae (Bryophyta). II. - Ann. Bot. Fennici 14: 62-64.
Koponen, T. 1978 ('1977'):  Miscellaneous notes on Mniaceae  (Bryophyta). III. Trachycystis ussuriensis, comb. nova. - Ann. Bot. Fennici 14: 206-207.
Koponen, T. 1979: Miscellaneous notes on Mniaceae (Bryophyta). IV. Typification of Hedwig's species of Mniaceae. - Ann. Bot. Fennici 16: 79-89.
Koponen, T. 1979: Miscellaneous notes on Mniaceae (Bryophyta). V. Plagiomnium subelimbatum, comb. nova. - Ann. Bot. Fennici 16: 95-96.
Koponen, T. 1979: Miscellaneous notes on Mniaceae  (Bryophyta). VI.  The holotype on Mnium andrewsianum. - Ann. Bot. Fennici 16: 157-158.
Koponen, T. 1980: Miscellaneous notes on Mniaceae (Bryophyta). VII. Orthomnion loheri in Japan. - Misc. Bryol. Lichenol. 8: 180-182.
Koponen, T. 1981: Miscellaneous notes on Mniaceae (Bryophyta). VIII. Verification of the vouchers of some chromosome number reports. - Ann. Bot. Fennici 18: 73-82.
Koponen, T. 1981: Miscellaneous notes on Mniaceae (Bryophyta). IX. Additions to the European synopsis. - Ann. Bot. Fennici 18: 99-100.
Koponen, T. 1981: Miscellaneous notes on the Mniaceae (Bryophyta). X. Notes on the distribution of Mnium and Plagiomnium. - Ann. Bot. Fennici 18: 101-103.
Koponen, T. 1982: Miscellaneous notes on Mniaceae (Bryophyta). XI. Distribution of Plagiomnium rostratum. - Memoranda Soc. Fauna Flora Fennica 58: 17-20.
Koponen, T. 1983: Miscellaneous notes on Mniaceae (Bryophyta). XIV. Contributions to the nomenclature. - Ann. Bot. Fennici 20: 105-107.
Koponen, T. 1993: Miscellaneous notes on the Mniaceae (Bryophyta). XVI. Plagiomnium undulatum (Hedw.) T. Kop. in Ethiopia. - Bull. Jardin Bot. Nat. Belg. 62: 397-402.
Koponen, T. & Afonina, O. 1992: Miscellaneous notes on Mniaceae (Bryophyta). XV. Genus Rhizomnium in the Russia east of Ural Mts. - Bryobrothera 1: 245-250.
Koponen, T. & Li, X.-J. & Zang, M. 1982: Miscellaneous notes on Mniaceae (Bryophyta). XIII. Orthomnion yunnanense, species nova. - Ann. Bot. Fennici: 73-74.
Koponen, T. & Lou, J.-S. 1982: Miscellaneous notes on Mniaceae (Bryophyta). XII. Revision of specimens in the Institute of Botany, Academia Sinica, Beijing, China. - Ann. Bot. Fennici 19: 67-72.


Distribution

Bowers, M. C. & Koponen, T. J. 1969: The Discovery of Rhizomnium andrewsianum in Finland and Norway. - Bryologist 72: 252-254.
Koponen, T. 1968: The moss genus Plagiomnium Kop. sect. Rosulata (Kindb.) Kop. in northwestern Europe. - Ann. Bot. Fennici 5: 213-224.
Koponen, T. 1969: The moss genus Cinclidium (Mniaceae) in Finland. - Ann. Bot. Fennici 6: 112-118.
Koponen, T. 1973: Mnium spinosum in North America. - Ann. Bot. Fennici 10: 102-103.
Koponen, T. 1979: On the taxonomy and phytogeography of Mnium Hedw. s. str. (Musci, Mniaceae). - Abstracta Bot. 5 (Suppl. 3): 63-73.
Koponen, T. 1987: Mniaceae. - In: Frey, W. (ed.), Moosflora und -vegetation in Regenwäldern NO-Perus. Ergebnisse der Bryotrop-Expedition nach Peru 1982. - Nova Hedwigia 88: 27.
Koponen, T. 1993: Taxonomic results of the BRYOTROP Expedition to Zaire and Rwanda. 21. Mniaceae. - Tropical Bryology 8: 189.
Koponen, T. 1994: Cinclidiaceae, Mniaceae and Plagiomniaceae from Minshan Range, northwestern Sichuan, China. - Hikobia 11: 387-406.
Koponen, T. & Ji, M. 2006: Rhizomnium hattorii (Cinclidiaceae, Musci), an addition to Sino–Japanese distribution element of bryophytes. — J. Hattori Bot Lab. 100: 305–309.
Koponen, T. & Lai, M.-J. 1977 ('1976'): Rhizomnium tuomikoskii T. Kop. (Mniaceae) newly recorded from Taiwan. - Quarterly J. Taiwan Mus. 29: 497-498.
Koponen, T. & Czernyadjeva, I. V. 2007: Rhizomnium tuomikoskii (Mniaceae, Musci) on the Kamchatka Peninsula, Russian Far East. — Arctoa 15: 183–186.
Sérgio, C. & Koponen, T. 2001: Acerca da presença de Plagiomnium medium (B. & S.) T. Kop. em Portugal. In: Sérgio, C., Notulae Bryoflorae Lusitanicae VII.6. — Anuário Soc. Brot. 65: 104-105.

Methods and miscellaneous

Koponen, T. 1967: Biometrical analysis of a mixed stand of Mnium affine Funck and M. medium B.S.G. - Ann. Bot. Fennici 4: 67-73.
Koponen, T. 1968: On polysety in Plagiomnium Kop. sect. Rosulata (Kindb.) Kop. (Bryophyta).  - Memoranda Soc. Fauna Flora Fennica 44: 24-32.
Koponen, T. 1971: Male plant of Rhizomnium minutulum. - Hikobia 6: 47-49.
Koponen, T. 2008: Lähdelehväsammalia (Rhizomnium) on karvoihin katsominen. Dokumentoitu sammalpakina. [Judge Rhizomnium by its hairs. A documented moss feuilleton.] — Bryobrotherella 11: 9–19.
Koponen, T. & Nehira, K. 1972: The germination of asexual organs in the Mniaceae. - J. Jap. Bot. 47: 1-9.
Koponen, T. & Nilsson, E. 1978: Flavonoid patterns and species pairs in Plagiomnium and Rhizomnium (Mniaceae). - Bryoph. Bibl. 13: 411-425.
Koponen, T. & Buck, W. R. 1996: On the variation of leaf border in Rhizomnium (Cinclidiaceae). - Tropical Bryol. 12: 119-122.
Kumar, S. S., Koponen, T. & Prem Lal Uniyal 1987:  Brachytheciaceae, Bryaceae, Entodontaceae, Funariaceae, Hypnaceae, Mniaceae. - In: Löve, A., Chromosome number reports XCVII. - Taxon 36: 767.
Mues, R., Leidinger, G., Lauck, V., Zinsmeister, H. D., Koponen, T. & Markham, K. R. 1986: Rhizomnium magnifolium and R. pseudopunctatum, the first mosses to yield flavone glucoronides. -  Z. Naturforsch. 41C: 971-975.
Sorsa, P. & Koponen, T. 1973: Spore morphology of Mniaceae Mitt. (Bryophyta) and its taxonomic significance. - Ann. Bot. Fennici 10: 187-200.
Suire, C., Bourgeois, G. & Koponen, T. 2000: Some chemical constituents of thirteen mosses from the traditional Mniaceae family. - J. Hattori Bot. Lab. 89: 233-246.