editorial

Dixon (1923, pp. 113, 128) put Trichostomum cockaynei in syonymy with both Weissia weymouthii [= Didymodon weymouthii] and Barbula australasiae [= Didymodon australasiae] as "Trichostomum Cockaynii contains a mixture of Barbula australasiae with a few stems of a moss which I take to be identical with W. Weymouthii, but the peristome teeth are longer and narrower, and shortly filiform above, while the leaf structure shows some slight difference. The leaf-margin is usually plane, but occasionally slightly reflexed below, often on one side only; and there is a considrable resemblance in many respects to the European Didymodon tophaceus (Brid) Jur. The peristome, however appears to be certainly Weisioid, and I believe that it is in the proper place in this genus."

Dixon, H.N. 1923: Studies in the bryology of New Zealand, with special reference to the herbarium of Robert Brown. Part III. Bulletin, New Zealand Institute 3(3): 75–152.

typification

Holotype: N.Z., Broken River, West Coast Road, R. Brown s.n., Mar. 1891. CHR 335724!

Beever, J.E. 2024: Pottiaceae subfamily Barbuloideae. In: Heenan, P.B. (ed.) Flora of New Zealand — Mosses. Fascicle 50. Manaaki Whenua Press, Lincoln.

editorial

The holotype of the basionym, Trichostomum cockaynei (CHR 335724), is located in the Robert Brown herbarium at CHR. It contains only a single species, unlike material examined by Dixon which he noted was largely Barbula australasiae “with a few stems of a moss which I take to be identical with W. weymouthii” (Dixon 1923 p. 113). This observation appears to be the basis of Dixon’s placing Trichostomum cockaynei in the synonymy of Weissia weymouthii. Examination of the CHR holotype confirms Dixon’s decision, although the epithet cockaynei has priority over weymouthii.” (J.E. Beever, pers. comm. 27 June 2022, from text for forthcoming treatment of Pottiaceae for Flora of New Zealand Mosses)

Etymology

The epithet cockaynei (as cockaynii) honours the botanist Leonard Cockayne, whom Robert Brown accompanied on many botanising expeditions (Thomson 1996).

Beever, J.E. 2024: Pottiaceae subfamily Barbuloideae. In: Heenan, P.B. (ed.) Flora of New Zealand — Mosses. Fascicle 50. Manaaki Whenua Press, Lincoln.