Manukjanová, A., Kouteckí, P., Štechová, T. & Kučera, J. 2019. Insights into the distribution patterns, habitat and morphologic differentiation of cryptic species of the moss Hamatocaulis vernicosus in the Czech Republic. – Herzogia 32: 183–199.

We studied local distribution, morphological and ecological differences between the two cryptic species of Hamatocaulis vernicosus in the Czech Republic. Distribution was assessed at both regional scale and within localities using several barcoding methods including direct sequencing and PCR-RFLP of ITS region of nrDNA, as well as amplification of clade-specific SSR markers. The lineage known as clade 1 occurs on more than 90 % of the 70 investigated Czech localities, while clade 2 occurs at only about 10 % of localities, which moreover mostly support plants of both clades. Analysis of ITS sequences from Czech samples showed considerable variability in clade 1, while plants of clade 2 were invariable. Comparison of climatic characteristics did not reveal any significant differences in mean annual temperature, precipitation and frost days between localities of both clades, although clade 2 plants tends to grow at higher elevations. Statistical evaluation of morphometric data has not revealed any character which would morphologically distinguish plants of both clades.