Abstract
Introduction Specimens of Sphaerocarpos collected during 2022 from the central Iberian Peninsula did not match any previously known species of this genus. Examination of other herbarium material revealed three identical specimens from three different localities in Spain. These were also morphologically identical to Portuguese specimens previously identified as S. stipitatus, a southern hemisphere and Himalayan species that in fact is different from these Portuguese plants.Methods The morphology of the newly collected specimens was compared with that of the known European species plus descriptions of South African plants of Sphaerocarpos stipitatus. A phylogenetic analysis based on the nuclear gene 26S and plastid psbA and rbcL regions was performed to investigate its relationships in the genus.Key results and conclusions Based on morphological and molecular data, we describe the plant as a new species of bryophyte, Sphaerocarpos ibericus M.Infante, Luceño, Quirós-de-la-Peña, Míguez, J.Muñoz & Heras, hitherto an Iberian endemic. It is diagnosed by having cylindrical female involucres with a partially bistratose wall whose inner cells are finger-like and arranged in more-or-less definite ribs in the medial part of the involucre, and the distal part of its spores covered with complete areolae larger at the centre of the spores than on their sides, gradually becoming incomplete and with the remaining lamellae transforming into ridges towards the line where the individual spores of the tetrad are joined. According to published illustrations, Portuguese specimens identified as S. stipitatus pertain indeed to the new species, and therefore S. stipitatus auct. eur. non Lindenb. should be removed from the European liverwort flora.
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Claims 6
Claim · model-written summary
Based on morphological and molecular data, the plant is described as a new bryophyte species, Sphaerocarpos ibericus.
- Taxon
- Sphaerocarpos ibericusSphaerocarpos ibericuse0
- Outcome
- new speciese0
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“we describe the plant as a new species of bryophyte, Sphaerocarpos ibericus”
Claim · model-written summary
Sphaerocarpos ibericus is diagnosed by cylindrical female involucres with a partially bistratose wall whose inner cells are finger-like and arranged in more-or-less definite ribs in the medial part.
- Taxon
- Sphaerocarpos ibericusSphaerocarpos ibericust0
- Organ / stage
- involucree0
- Outcome
- cylindrical female involucres with a partially bistratose walle0
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
t0“Sphaerocarpos ibericus”
e0“cylindrical female involucres with a partially bistratose wall whose inner cells are finger-like and arranged in more-or-less definite ribs in the medial part of the involucre”
Claim · model-written summary
The distal part of the spores of Sphaerocarpos ibericus is covered with complete areolae, larger at the centre than at the sides, becoming incomplete with lamellae turning into ridges toward the line where the tetrad spores join.
- Taxon
- Sphaerocarpos ibericusSphaerocarpos ibericust0
- Organ / stage
- sporese0
- Outcome
- distal part of its spores covered with complete areolaee0
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
t0“Sphaerocarpos ibericus”
e0“the distal part of its spores covered with complete areolae larger at the centre of the spores than on their sides”
Claim · model-written summary
Sphaerocarpos ibericus is, so far, an Iberian endemic.
- Taxon
- Sphaerocarpos ibericusSphaerocarpos ibericuse0
- Outcome
- Iberian endemice0
Not reportedDirection
Verbatim
e0“Sphaerocarpos ibericus M.Infante, Luceño, Quirós-de-la-Peña, Míguez, J.Muñoz & Heras, hitherto an Iberian endemic”
Claim · model-written summary
According to published illustrations, Portuguese specimens identified as S. stipitatus pertain to the new species.
- Taxon
- S. stipitatus
Sphaerocarpos stipitatuse0 - Outcome
- pertain indeed to the new speciese0
Not reportedDirection
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“Portuguese specimens identified as S. stipitatus pertain indeed to the new species”
Claim · model-written summary
S. stipitatus auct. eur. non Lindenb. should be removed from the European liverwort flora.
- Taxon
- S. stipitatus auct. eur. non Lindenb.
Sphaerocarpos stipitatuse0 - Outcome
- removed from the European liverwort florae0
- Setting
- European liverwort florae0
Organisms pictured · Representative pictures of the matched species, not figures from the paper.

Verbatim
e0“S. stipitatus auct. eur. non Lindenb. should be removed from the European liverwort flora”