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Coscinodon humilis was described by Milde from mica schist in the Passeiertal NE Merano (formerly southern Tyrolia in Austria, hence cited as Austria by Greven 1995. now Alto Adige in Italy). Limpricht (1890) regarded it as “verkümmerte Form von C. cribrosus”, and although Mönkemeyer (1927) still cited it, the species got forgotten by the time. Thus the species was no more mentioned by Corley et al (1981) in the European checklist and therefore no more included by Frey et al. (1995) in the German edition of the “Moos- und Farnpflanzen Europas”. Greven (1995) re-established the species in his treatment of Grimmia (and related genera) in Europe. Therefore Frey et al. (2006) included the species, which was, however, not keyed out. Finally Hill et al. (2006) listed it again in the new European checklist as a good species.
The identity of Braunia alopecura (Brid.) Limpr. with Braunia secunda (Hook.) Bruch & Schimp.
(2013)
Braunia alopecura, originally regarded as species endemic to the Southern Alps, later known in addition from the the Cape Verde Islands and recently reported from the Indohimalaya, has revealed to be identical with the neotropical Braunia secunda. This is another case of an American species in the Southern Alps and in Europe in general, as well as an example of possible long distance dispersal.
The location of Ticino in the southern Alps with an altitudinal range from 200 to more than 3000 m generates a high biodiversity of bryophytes, however, in addition, a mixture of mediterranean elements (caused by mild temperatures), atlantic elements (caused by high precipitation) and especially insubrian elements (confined to the Southern Alps) has attracted many famous bryologists over the past 150 years and make this region to a real bryological hot spot. Six of the 7 insubrian species are mainly distributed in North America. Their presence in the Southern Alps is correlated with a certain geological formation and their origin is not clear.
Thalloid liverworts with unistratose thallus margins are easily determined as Aneura maxima, which shall be identified by this character. However, forms of Pellia epiphylla and P. endiviifolia grown under humid conditions can have an unistratose undulate thallus margin and thus confused with the latter. Pellia species can, however, be distinguished from Aneura by the presence of slime hairs vz. slime papillae, which are described and illustrated here.
Hot spots are characterized by the occurrence of „hot“ species, rare, endangered, phytogeographically (for example highly disjunct) or ecologically interesting species (for example heavy metal species). The Apuanian Alps (ital. Alpi Apuani) are a place of extraordinary botanical and also bryological interest. Although situated far from the west coast of Europe, many atlantic species are found there, which have isolated occurrences and show up next in Asturias, Macaronesia. Ireland or Scotland. Representative of the oceanic element in the bryoflora are Dumortiera hirsuta, Lejeunea lamacerina, Lophocolea fragrans, Plagiochila exigua, P. bifaria, Saccogyna viticulosa, Harpalejeunea ovata and Marchesinia mackaii, supplemented by ferns such as Trichomanes speciosum and Hymenophyllum tunbrigense (Cortini-Pedrotti et al. 1992). Reasons for the presence of such species in Italy are the extraordinary climatic conditions. Situated directly along the Meditrerranean Sea, the climate is mild and due to depressions in the gulf of Genova, the rain is caught by the mountains resulting in a high precipitation of about 1400 at the foot of the region and more than 3000 mm in the summit region. This does, however, not explain whether these species are relics from the Tertiary or dispersed from the W-coast of Europe after the Pleistocene glaciations.
Dicranodontium didymodon, a species described from the Himalaya was recently reported from Spain. It has been distinguished from D. denudatum by a smooth subula. A reexamination of the type of this species revealed no additional characters which would support the recognition of a separate species. Therefore D. didymodon is synonymised with D. denudatum. The specimen from Spain is referred to D. denudatum var. glabrum, which differs from D. didymodon by larger stature and lack of brood leaves.
In the past, many bryophyte species were regarded as endemic to the Alps. Herzog listed more than 70 examples. Many of them are micro-endemisms or merely alpine forms of other species (Leptodontium styriacum) and not of taxanomic value, or considered as relics from the last interglacial period, although the Alps were covered by glaciers during the last ice age, which made a survival almost impossible, especially for forest species and epiphytes. Several of these species turned out to occur as well in Asia (Distichophyllum carinatum) or were described from there under a different name (Tayloria rudolphiana as T. delavayi). So far, one important species, Brotherella lorentziana, remained unsolved. A recent study revealed that this species is present in Asia, where it is known as B. henonii. At the present state of knowledge, five species namely Herbertus sendtneri, Riccia breidleri, Barbula bicolor, Marsupella ramosa and Trochobryum carniolicum must still be considered as endemic.
During the past years, Fontinalis specimens with round, concave leaves were collected in Germany and Spain, which were named as F. antipyretica var. mollis. A comparison with the type of F. mollis revealed that they are not identical and accordingly are described as new variety, F. antiypretica var. rotundifolia.
Fontinalis antipyretica var. mollis is recorded for Spain, which differs by orbicular, not keeled leaves. The presence in the same tufts together with var. antiypretica reveals that it is a somatic mutant of the latter. A form of Pellia epiphylla was observed which has wide thallus margins of unistratose cells resembling those of Aneura maxima. A Campylopus was collected resembling C. flexuosus but with ventral stereids in transverse section of the costa. It is described as C. flexuosus var. anomalus. An (unsuccessful) attempt has been made to find the locality in which P. Allorge found Campylopus setifolius for the only time in the Iberian Peninsula. The bryophilous fungus Octosporella jungermanniarum is reported as new to Spain. Dicranodontium didymodon, known before from the Himalaya and western China, is reported as new to Europe.