A taxonomic revision of Hedwigiaceae Schimp. from the Sino-Himalaya is provided. This region includes the Himalaya and the Hengduan Mountains of western China (Yunnan, Sichuan, and Xizang Provinces); recent fieldwork in this region has resulted in new collections of Hedwigiaceae which required taxonomic revision. Light microscopy and SEM were used to explore taxonomic characters significant for genus and species delimitation; diversity of leaf papillae was found to be particularly useful at both genus and species level. Five species of Hedwigiaceae are reported from the region: Braunia attenuata (Mitt.) A.Jaeger., B. alopecura (Brid.) Limpr., Hedwigia stellata Hedenäs, H. ciliata (Hedw.) P.Beauv., and H. emodica Hampe ex Müll.Hal. Descriptions and keys are provided to the genera and species; Braunia delavayi Besch. is synonymized under B. attenuata. Observations on the ecology and phytogeography of regional Hedwigiaceae are discussed. Braunia attenuata and B. alopecura are reported as new to Nepal; Hedwigia stellata is reported as new to the Sino-Himalaya (India, Nepal, Bhutan, and China) and H. emodica new to Nepal and China.
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Dalton et al. (2013) studied this question.