New distribution and distribution prediction of the endemic species Encalypta asiatica J. C. Zhao & L. Li in Tibet, China

Encalypta asiatica J. C. Zhao & L. Li, an endemic species of China, was first discovered in Hebei Province in 2006 and has not been reported since then. From 2012 to 2020, the bryophytes in Tibet have been investigated and collected by our research group and several specimens of E. asiatica were identified. In this paper, the morphological characteristics of E. asiatica were observed in detail. Transverse section of calyptra and capsule stoma were described for the first time:transverse section of calyptra is composed of 1-2 layers of thick-walled cells and 1-2 layers of transparent parenchymal cells; capsule surface is densely covered by stoma from top to bottom. MaxEnt model was used for analyzing the potential distribution of E. asiatica in Tibet under the current climate scenario. Results show that E. asiatica has a potential distribution area of 2.84×10⁵ km², is mainly distributed in the high-altitude Nagqu and Qamdo, and the annual maximum NDVI (Normalized difference vegetation index) and precipitation of the driest quarter are the most important environment factors to determine its distribution.