PROPOSAL OF JANIA PENNATA SP. NOV. WITH REASSESSMENT OF J. ROSEA (CORALLINALES, RHODOPHYTA)

Abstract

Johansen & Womersley (1986) examined hundreds of collections including 13 type specimens of haliptiloid species collected in southern Australia in the 1800s and they recognized only one species, J. rosea (as Haliptilon roseum). Because of the wide range of morphology of the Australian species many representatives recognized later from other localities of northern and southern hemisphere have been identified as J. rosea. However, we recognized evidence of at least five cryptic species within J. rosea from four localities based on SSU rDNA data. The aims of this study were to assign Korean representatives to the genus Jania by their morphological characteristics and molecular data as a new species, and to restore taxonomic position of some species merged into J. rosea. This study was carried out by means of comparison of morphology with materials from the herbaria and fresh materials from Korea, South Africa, Australia, and California, USA. Because of the morphological variability on the representative haliptiloid Jania species, J. rosea, molecular data were employed to ascertain phylogenetic relationships among the Korean representatives and other species in the Jania. To establish their phylogenetic relationships among members of the genus, SSU rDNA and cox1 sequence data were determined and analyzed. Four species, J. gracilis, J. subulata, J. trichocarpa, and J. verticillata were restored their taxonomic positions from J. rosea based on the results. Korean representatives were also assigned to the Jania, as a new species, J. pennata sp. nov.