Notes on African Fissidens, including F. colliculosus Brugg.-Nann., sp. nov., F. sciophyllus subsp. capeverdensis subsp. nov. and F. pellucidus var. ripensis comb. nov., stat. nov.

Fissidens colliculosus Brugg.-Nann., sp. nov. is described. It is characterized by completely limbate vaginant laminae, tiny, convex, smooth laminal cells, excurrent costae and axillary antheridial buds. Its classification in subg. Polypodiopsis (Müll.Hal.) Broth. is discussed. Furthermore, F. pellucidus var. ripensis (Mitt.) Brugg.-Nann., comb. nov., stat. nov. is proposed and diagnosed. It differs from var. pellucidus Hornsch. in its mucronate apices and taller shoots with up to 55 leaf pairs. Thirdly, F. sciophyllus Mitt. subsp. capeverdensis Brugg.-Nann., subsp. nov. is described. It differs from F. s. subsp. sciophyllus by short costae that end 2-10 cells below the apex and tapering, acute leaf tips. It is endemic to the Cape Verde islands. The Asian-Polynesian F. ceylonensis Dozy & Molk. is for the first time reported for mainland Africa under this name (formerly known as e.g. F. borgenii). Several new synonyms are proposed. Fissidens magnicellulatus Brugg.-Nann. is subsumed under F. aciphyllus Dixon in Dixon & Wager; F. borgenii Hampe, F. sarcophyllus Müll.Hal. ex Dus., F. intralimbatulus Broth. & P.de la Varde, F. paucilimbatus P.de la Varde, F. aoristoloma P.de la Varde, F. intralimbatulus var. brevifolius P.de la Varde and F. norkettii P.de la Varde under F. ceylonensis; F. ugandae Dixon & P.de la Varde and F. gibbonii Bizot under F. ferrugineus Müll.Hal.; F. alomoides Müll.Hal. ex Dusén under F. hymenodon Besch.; F. cryptarum Müll.Hal. and F. cremersii Bizot & Onr. under F. pellucidus var. ripensis; F. grainvillei P.de la Varde under F. punctulatus Sande Lac.; F. nossianus Besch., F. motelayi Renauld & Cardot and F. ferrugineus var. pallidus Thér. are subsumed under F. schweinfurthii (Müll.Hal.) Paris). Fissidens ferrugineus and F. schweinfurthii are discussed, illustrated, diagnosed, and reinstated as species. The puzzling F. porrectus-complex is discussed, diagnosed, and some of its variants are illustrated. Fissidens subundatus Dury was described as pluripapillose, but appears to be mammillose. Its description is accordingly emended, the species is for the first time illustrated and a lectotype is designated. The species that are lectotypified or second-step-lectotypified in this paper are listed in the Appendix 1.