Open Access

Min S. Chuah-Petiot

• 194 species of bryophytes, belonging to 61 families are reported from Mount Kenya, of which 38 species are new for Mount Kenya and 30 records are new for the whole country, marked by * and ** respectively. The montane forests between 1600 and 3300m. asl., contain the greatest diversity of life forms and species. This is due to the abundant rainfall providing adequate humidity at relatively low temperature and altitude, coupled with frequent cloud cover. All vegetation belts above the montane forests experience large diurnal fluctuations in temperatures, intense solar radiation, added by the fact that the rainfall is relatively low and erratic or at times fall in the form of hail or snow resulting in a low diversity of species and life forms except in very sheltered habitats such as rock crevices in rocky outcrops. Solifluctions soil conditions occuring between 3850 and 4450m. asl. exhibit moss balls growth forms. The summits of Batian (5199m.), Nelion (5188m.) and Lenana (4985m.) harbour small cushions of Grimmia affinis and Andreaea cucullata. The greatest number of species are found in the wetter southern, south-western and south-eastern slopes unlike the drier northern, north-western and north-eastern slopes of the mountain. Species commonly found in the wetter areas are Bryum preussii, Bryum keniae, Prionodon ciliatus, Hypopterygium viridissimum, Plagiochila barteri, Plagiochila squamulosa, Radula recurvifolia, Porella hoehnelii, Dumortiera hirsuta while Pterogonium gracile, Leptodon smithii and Hedwigia ciliata are characteristic of the drier areas.