Neomacounia
| Neomacounia | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Bryophyta |
| Class: | Bryopsida |
| Subclass: | Bryidae |
| Order: | Hypnales |
| Family: | Neckeraceae |
| Genus: | Neomacounia Ireland, 1974 |
| Species: | †N. nitida
|
| Binomial name | |
| †Neomacounia nitida Lindb. Ireland
| |
| Synonyms | |
|
Forsstroemia nitida Lindb. | |
Neomacounia nitida, or Macoun's shining moss, is an extinct moss that was found only in a small area of Ontario, and the sole species in the genus Neomacounia.
Biology
Macoun's shining moss was a large
hermaphroditic
and capable of fertilizing itself.
The plant was an
cedar that grew in swampy areas. The only known location where this species occurred was in three locales near Belleville, Ontario.[1]
Taxonomy
The species was originally described as Forsstroemia nitida. In 1974, it was reclassified in the
monotypic genus Neomacounia. Not all bryologists accept that it is in a monotypic genus, or that it should be placed in the family Neckeraceae. Most recent publications accept the current classification of Macoun's shining moss.[1] The common name honours John Macoun (1831–1920), who was an Irish-born Canadian naturalist.[2]
Extinction
The area where the samples were found was
habitat loss during that time. Searches and surveys looking for the species were conducted in 1972 and 2001. They failed to find any evidence for the species' continued existence.[1]
This species is the only known endemic Canadian plant to become extinct since the 16th century.[3]
Specimens
All known samples of N. nitida were from three collections taken between 1862 and 1864. At least two of the collections were made by John Macoun. As Macoun had mislabelled other samples before, some doubt exists about from where they were taken.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d Macoun's Shining Moss factsheet accessed October 16, 2006
- S2CID 246307410. Retrieved January 27, 2022.
- ^ Extinct organisms on the Species at Risk Act accessed October 16, 2006
External links
Wikispecies has information related to Neomacounia nitida.