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1
The present guide to bryologically interesting regions in Germany was prepared for a bryological fieldtrip during the XIV Botanical Congress, Berlin 1987 and deals with the following regions: Fichtel Mountains (Fichtelgebirge), Black Forest (Schwarzwald), the Alps and the Allgäu (Alpen und Allgäu), and the Wettersteingebirge (Bavarian Alps).
3
The Azores are of bryological interest in many respects: They are young volcanic islands with an age between 4 mio and 40.000 years, are situated in an hyperoceanic environment favouring bryophyte growth, the bryophyte flora is composed of European, Neotropical, African and subantarctic elements, there are about as many bryophyte species as flowering plants, the islands have a comparably high rate of endemic species (on single Azorean islands, all Azorean islands or the Macaronesian islands), and the bryophyte flora gives an impression of the bryophyte flora of continental Europe during Tertiary, since many species such as Echinodium spp. or Andoa berthelotiana, known as fossils from the Tertiary of continental Europe, survived here the glaciation periods and got extinct in Europe.
004
A guide to bryological hotspots in Europe : [Part 2: The Rur Valley, Eifel Mountains, Germany]
(2005)
The Rur valley is situated in the extreme west of Germany in the western part of the Eifel Mountains, close to the Belgian border. The Rur valley harbours several interesting, mainly bryopyhtes. Most of the interesting species are aquatic species. Very obvious is the oceanic element, which is represented by species such as Platyhypnidium lusitanicum, Hyocomium arnoricum, and Isothecium holtii.
005
Madeira is bryologically insofar very interesting, as it harbours (like the other Macaronesian Islands) relics of the bryoflora of the Tertiary of continental Europe. Originated in the Tertiary at various times, these volcanic islands were mainly colonized from Europe. Whereas many species got extinct in Europe during the glaciations of the Quaternary, these elements were able to survive in these islands. So we are faced there with an ancient bryoflora, especially in the laurel forests, amongst other phytogeographic elements, mainly mediterranean species.
024
029
A list of all liverworts and mosses reported from the Maltese Islands with references has been compiled from the literature, which includes 23 species of liverworts and hornworts as well as 96 taxa of mosses. The list is completed by the results of a bryological fieldtrip in March 2008. During this trip, 14 species of liverworts and 40 species of mosses were collected, of which Cephaloziella baumgartneri, Didymodon luridus, Fissidens gracilifolius, Fossombronia echinata, Funaria pulchella, Riccia cavernosa and Weissia fallax are new to Malta. This raises the number of species known from the Maltese Islands to 23 horn- and liverworts and 100 mosses.
040
Field observations of mixed tufts demonstrate that Hpynum cupressiforme s.str. (excl. imponens, jutlandicum, andoi etc.) consists of several different genotypes which are no modifications. Within a study of herbarium material, the specimens were sorted into different phenotypes, for which names were applied from the literature. Within Hypnum cupressiforme, an expression with straight leaves (var. brevisetum Schimp.) was distinguished as well three with hamate leaves (var. uncinulatum Boul., var. cupressiforme and var. plumosum Mart.), which are differentiated by the size, number and form of alar cells and serrate viz. entire leaf tips. Var. subjulaceum is tentatively regarded as alpine variety of Hypnum lacunosum, var, filiforme is regarded as modification based on the oberservation of transitions.
058
055
Based upon recent checklists, the moss floras of the Mascarenes (Seychelles, Réunion, Mauritius) is compared. The diversity of species varies much amongst the islands and is lowest in the Seychelles (110 species) but highest in Réunion (366 species), whereas Mauritius has 246 species. Interestingly the young volcanic islands Réunion and Mauritius have much higher species numbers as the Seychelles which were part of the Gondwana continent. The richness of mosses in Réunion is due to the higher altitude (3069m), higher rainfall and the better state of conservation (30% of surface consist of intact forest), whereas the maximum altitude of the other islands hardly exceeds 800 m and most forests are destroyed. The moss flora of the islands have only few species on common and are thus almost not related. All islands have only 33 species in common. The Seychelles, which are situated about 1900 km from Réunion and Mauritius, share only 42 viz. 49 species with the latter. Réunion and Mauritius, which are 170 km away, share only 107 species. This indicates that the factor chance played an important role in the colonization of the islands. Insofar the term “Mascarenes” is a geographical but not a floristic one. The Mascarenes were mainly colonized by species from Africa and Madagascar, but also from SE-Asia und the austral region. The main floristic element is African, which is in contrast to the prevailing trade winds and might indicate that the colonization at least of the young volcanic islands happened during a different wind system in the past.
057
051
The Moss Flora of Mauritius
(2009)
The mosses reported from Mauritius were compiled from the literature and are listed with localities and references. Included are collections by the first author made in 2007 on the island. Barbula indica, Campylopus flavicoma, Racopilum ayresii and Ectropothecium chenagonii, Groutiella tomentosa, Schlotheimia ferruginosa and Trichostomum crispulum are reported as new to Mauritius. The list includes 238 species. A short survey of the bryological exploration of the island is given.
038
An updated list of the mosses of the Inner Seychelles is given based on the previous literature and collections of the first author in 2008. It includes data on the frequency of species as well as distributional data for the individual islands. The moss flora of the islands is characterized. Campylopus brevirameus Dixon is regarded as synonym of C. julaceus ssp. arbogastii (Renauld & Cardot) J.-P.Frahm. Brachymenium dicranoides, Bryum alpinum, Campylopus flaccidus, C. flexuosus, Ectropothecium brachycladulum, E. chenagonii and E. perrotii are reported as new to the Seychelles. Garckea flexuosa, Syrrhopodon involutus and S. prolifer are reported as new to La Digue, Bryum leptospeiron, Brachymenium exile and Calymperes afzelii as new to Praslin.
042
Contribution to the bryophyte flora of India: the Aralam
Wildlife Sanctuary in the Western Ghats
(2009)
The bryophyte flora of the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary in the Western Ghats of India is catalogued for the first time. The catalogue consists of 116 taxa (89 mosses, 27 liverworts), of which two are new for India (Plagiochila singularis, Vesicularia dubyana), 21 species are newly reported for Peninsular India (Clastobryopsis planula var. delicata, Barbella chrysonema, Brachymenium leptophyllum, Brachythecium rutabulum, Cololejeunea longifolia, Cyathodium tuberosum, Dicranella amplexans, Didymodon vinealis, Duthiella wallichi, Fabronia assamica, Haplocladium microphyllum, Himantocladium cyclophyllum, Homalia trichomanoides var. trichomanoides, Isopterygium serrulatum, Leskea perstricta, Lopholejeunea kashyapii, Leptotrichella assamica, Macromitrium turgidum, Rhynchostegium hookeri, Splachnobryum assamicum, Thamnobryum siamense) and another 14 species are new for Kerala State (Atrichum pallidum, Chionostomum rostratum, Claopodium prionophyllum, Cololejeunea lanciloba, Cyathophorum adiantum, Dicranella divaricata, Entodontopsis wightii, Fissidens pellucidus, Glossadelphus glossoides, Isopterygium lignicola, Leucodon secundus, Neckeropsis exserta, Plagiochila bischleriana, Timmiella anomala). The species Jungermannia obliquifolia has also been reported as a taxon new to India (Nair et al. in press (a) from this area.
061
This catalogue includes a total of 150 valid names from the State of Himachal Pradesh, India, of them 140 taxa (128 species, 6 subspecies, 5 varieties and 1 forma) belonging to liverworts and 10 species to hornworts, based on literature and authors’ own survey and documentation of the two groups from the State since 2001. Fifty four taxa (including three new species and one new variety) are recently added by the authors alone to the area. Literature reference for each species and synonyms from the area has been given with their correct name in the catalogue.
065
The checklist reports 712 taxa of bryophytes from Tamil Nadu, India, comprising 211 taxa in 56 genera and 32 families of liverworts, 8 taxa in 4 genera and 2 families of hornworts, and 493 taxa in 189 genera and 44 families of mosses. Literature sources for Tamil Nadu records are included for each taxon, and an extensive synonymy is provided. For currently accepted taxa, the details of types from Tamil Nadu are indicated. A map of Tamil Nadu, a synopsis of families and genera, and a bibliography are provided.
075
Mosses of Venezuela
(2010)
926 taxa of mosses are listed for Venezuela completed by bibliographical references. Many significant additions have been added or changed from the original document completed in 2007, particularly a complete review of all the bryophytes on the original Venezuela list. This was caused because the TROPICOS group had revised all the existing bryophytes, to bring them up to the most recent views. This may not be popular, but otherwise there is no TROPICOS. This document was originally written 3 years ago, and we now have to familiarise ourselves with the new TROPICOS situation, which will now become the new standard - but with so many changed names, we might have problems in mapping our familiar system to the new one.
060
A small collection of bryophytes made during holidays on Réunion in September 2009 revealed 6 species new to the island (Brachymenium acuminatum, B. dicranoides, Bryum lanatum, Campylopus clavatus, Mielichhoferia bryoides and Oxyrhynchium hians). Campylopus crateris has been found for the first time with sporophytes. These new records are incorporated in a new alphabetic list of the mosses of Réunion. Keys for the species for several genera are given.
084
Leucobryum juniperoideum was found on a fieldtrip in December 2009 in North Carolina. This species was so far known from the tropics as well from Europe where it had formerly be included in L. glaucum until 1962. It is the third species of this genus in North America and differs from L. albidum and L. glaucum by a different leaf shape, a different transverse section of the costa and different shape of the capsules.
092
Contribution to the bryophyte flora of India: the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve in the Western Ghats
(2011)
A checklist of the bryophyte flora of the Parambikulam Tiger Reserve in the Western Ghats is presented here. It consists of 58 taxa (39 mosses, one Hornwort and 18 liverworts), of which Grimmia funalis and Thuidium subdelicatulum has reported as new record for India (Manju & Rajesh, communicated), Leucophanes glaucum (Schwägr.) Mitt. is newly reported for the mainland of India, 10 species are newly reported for Peninsular India and another four are new for the Kerala State.
099
The status of endemic liverworts in the Western Ghats ‘one of the major Hot spots’ of plant biodiversity have been discussed in the present paper. The study is based on the evaluation of type and authentic specimens available in Lucknow University Hepatic Herbarium (LWU) as well as those in several international herbaria including NICH, NY, JE, FH, G and excicatae of the world and published data. An overall assessment and evaluation revealed the presence of a total of 54 liverworts endemic to Western Ghats in India. The paper also discusses those species which were earlier known as endemic to the area but now show an extended range of distribution elsewhere and also the species earlier introduced from Western Ghats but now changed their status.
100
102
104
The present paper includes information on intraspecific variability (ecological and morpho-anatomical) among 46 accessions of Conocephalum conicum (L.) Dumort. collected from diverse habitats in Bhaderwah (J & K state), India. The study revealed tremendous diversity in almost each studied character.
103
The aqueous extract of Dumortiera hirsuta (Swaegr.) Nees, a bryophyte, was found to be effective against seven postharvest phytopathogens tested. The fungitoxicity of the extract was measured by percent spore germination inhibition and percent radial growth inhibition using poisoned food technique. The inhibition of spore germination by the Dumortiera extract was within the range of 400 to 550 ppm. In poisoned food technique, out of seven postharvest phytopathogenic fungi tested six were completely inhibited by the Dumortiera extract with concentration range of 550 to 600 ppm. The mode of action of extract (350 ppm) was examined in the case of Aspergillus niger van Tieghem. Distinct morphological changes were observed in treated hyphae in comparison to control . The treatment clearly showed anomalies in the hyphae; cell wall of became flaccid, cytoplasm started leaving the cell wall and became granulated.
106
India is among of the 12 mega biodiversity countries in the world. The huge area and the range of phyto-climatic conditions met within its eight bio-geographical zones contribute to the great diversity of the Indian flora. These bio-geographical zones have diverse topographical variations and climatic conditions. The present work deals with the bryo-diversity of western part of the country which is greatly neglected due to its comparatively harsh environmental conditions by the bryologists. It is an attempt to provide a comprehensive account of the bryophyte wealth of the region by stepwise exploration and it has initiated with Ranthambhore National Park.
101
Aneura maxima is a species which was described from Java and reported from various parts of Asia (India, Indonesia, New Caledonia and Japan). It was recently found new to Thailand (Frahm et al. 2009). Schuster (1992) reported this species from the Appalachian Mountains in North America and Andriesen et al. (1995) for the first time for Europe from the Belgian Ardennes. I (Frahm 1997) reported the species a second time for Europe from Finland. Subsequently, the species was reported from many other regions of Europe including Denmark (Thingsgaard 2002), Poland and Luxemburg (Werner 2003), Corsica (Ros et al. 2007), France (Sotiaux et al. 1996), Czechia (Kucera 2004) and Germany (Meinunger & Schröder (2007).
107
Stephensoniella brevipedunculata Kash., monotypic Indian liverwort, belonging to Division Marchantiophyta, Class Marchantiopsida, Order Marchantiales and Family Exormothecaceae was initially instituted by Kashyap in 1914, when he collected it for the first time from Mussorrie and later on collected it from other parts of Western Himalayas, such as Kulu and Dulchi pass at an altitude of 2,000 to 2,400m (Kashyap, 1929). Later collections were made from different parts of Western Himalaya by various bryologists like Kanwal (1977), Srivastava (1983), Pant (1983), Pant and Tiwari (1995).Udar et al. (1983) in an attempt to assess reasons for disappearance of this prestigious hepatic undertook studies on its detailed reproductive biology. However, Pant (1983) attributed fast increasing urbanization as the main cause for the disappearance of this liverwort from Nainital area of Western Himalayas. This liverwort was considered to be endemic to Western Himalayas only (IUCN, 2000). Tan et al. 1994a, while compiling first ever red list of bryophytes included 50 species (24 mosses, 25 liverworts and 1 hornwort). Subsequently, the list included another 41 taxa, including S. brevipedunculata, thus increasing the number of most endangered bryophyte species worldwide to 91 (Geissler et al. 1997).
108
An account of 40 species of bryophytes including 24 mosses and 16 liverworts of Kakkavayal Reserve forest in the Western Ghats is provided here. This includes four new records of phytogeographical significance to Kerala viz., Cololejeunea appressa (Evans) Benedix, C. follicola Srivastava & Srivastava, C. udarii Asthana & Srivastava and Pallavicinia himalayensis Schiffn.
118
During a fieldtrip to Hordaland in Norway, I collected Fissidens serrulatus in one place: Norway, Hordaland, Skanevik, steep slope along road between highway E 134 and village, birch forest, on seeping rocks of a cliff, ca. 90 m alt. leg. Frahm Sept. 1, 2011, no. 2011676. The specimen was collected because of the large size of the plants and to check, whether they belong to F. adianthoides or F. dubius. In fact, F. serrulatus looks much alike these species mentioned, also under the microscope, showing a pale band of cells along the leaf margins, but differs under the microscope by strongly mamillose laminal cells (fig. 3).
088
The checklist reports total 2489 taxa of bryophytes recorded from India, comprising 1786 species in 355 genera of mosses, 675 species in 121 genera of liverworts and 25 species in six genera of hornworts. Some of the genera of mosses like Fissidens, Barbula, Campylopus, and Bryum are found to have largest number of species. In liverworts Riccia, Porella, Frullania, Lejeunea, Plagiochila and Jungermannia are recorded to be species rich genera and in hornworts Anthoceros is well represented by species. Pottiaceae, Lejeuniaceae and Notothyladaceae are largely represented in India. Nearly 340 species are endemic to India.
081
Orthotrichum fastigiatum has variously been treated as a species or as subscpecies, variety or even as synonym of O. affine. The distinguishing characters between both taxa were studied. An evaluation revealed that some characters such as spore size (different but intergrading), exostome ornamentation, leaf apex, shape of papillae and lid cannot be used for differentiation. Other characters of O. fastigiatum such as smaller size, capsules imbedded in the leaves, a naked calyptra, the width of the ribs of the urn and the extend to which the empty capsule is contracted below the mouth are usable but hardly to quantify. The observation of mixed stands as well an apparent different ecology indicates different genotypes. Therefore O. fastigiatum should be regarded as infraspecific taxon of O. affine.
116
Based on collections by the author made in September 2001, Conocephalum salebrosum, Hydrogonium ehrenbergii, Breutelia chrysocoma and Campylopus pilifer var. brevirameus are reported as new to the Azores. Seven species are reported as new to Sâo Miguel. Various notes and keys are provided for several taxa.
112
129
In succession of terrestrial ecosystem, bryophytes, algae and lichens constitute the primary components. Not only phylogenetically but also physically they are related to each other, as they are also found in close association and intermixed with each other on same substratum. A chlorophycean alga Ulothrix zonata (Weber & Mohr) Kützing has been found growing as an epiphyte on moss Macromitrium sulcatum (Hook.) Brid.. The association is peculiar as the algal filaments form a close net over the surface of moss leaves and axis.
121
Bryophytes (mosses, liverworts and hornworts) are the most basal lineages among extant land plants. However, there is controversy regarding their monophyletic or paraphyletic origin. Moreover, the most basal group of bryophytes also remains questionable. Due to this it is a matter of debate which lineage of bryophytes acts as transition link between bryophytes and pteridophytes. In order to resolve these issues we conducted a bioinformatics analysis on available chloroplast genomes of 1 green alga, 5 bryophytes, 4 pteridophytes, and 6 gymnosperms. Our study is based on multiple genome analysis through whole proteome comparison. The higher number of orthologous identified in Anthoceros (a hornwort), in comparison to other bryophytes considered, against all pteridophytes strongly support hornworts as transition link between bryophytes and pteridophytes.
123
The Chocó region in Colombia is one of the wettest rainforests regions in the world. Isolated for about 3 million years, it is known for its high rate of endemism in flowering plants, ferns, birds and butterflies. Bryophytes (mosses and liverworts) of this region, however, were very unsufficiently known. For this reason, a first survey of the bryoflora of the Chocó region was made in 1992 along a transect from sea level to 1800 m elevation. Apparently because of the high precipitation with up to 12 m annual rainfall, terrestrial species were found growing on bark or corticolous species on leaves. The cover of epiphytic bryophytes is higher than elsewhere, especially in the lowland forest which shows usually a low bryophyte cover. The percentage of mosses compared with that of liverworts is much lower than elsewhere. Mosses form only about 10% of the bryophyte cover in contrast to 40-50% in the according elevation in other rain forest regions.
140
Bryoflora of Munsyari and Dharchula Tehsil of Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, Western Himalayas, India
(2012)
Uttarakhand state of India comprises unique topographical conditions and hence is rich in bryophytes. In present work two Tehsils-Munsyari and Dharchula of Pithoragarh have been explored extensively to assess the bryophytic wealth of this district. A preliminary checklist has been prepared which revealed the occurrence of 51 taxa of bryophytes from this district.
119
Parson’s valley is an area explored for the first time in Indian Bryology; it is situated in Nilgiri hills (Western Ghats). The region is very conducive for the growth of liverworts and it is evident by the present study of recent collections from this area in which 27 taxa (under 12 genera and 5 families) of liverworts have been recorded, of which few are new to Nilgiri hills as well as south India.
125
Plants variable in size and appearence, from a few mm to more than 10 cm tall, in loose to dense tufts. Stems erect, simple, rarely branched, radiculose, sometimes densely tomentose; rhizoids reddish-brown to whitish. Leaves erect-patent, sometimes curled when dry or falcate (sometimes erect and falcate expressions in the same species), short to longly lanceolate, often subulate; margins entire or serrate at leaf tips; costa single, percurrent to short excurrent, sometimes hyaline excurrent, filling 1/6 to 4/5 of leaf width, in transverse-section with median deuter cells and dorsal stereids, rarely hyalocysts, ventrally either stereids or more rarely hyalocysts; laminal cells usually smooth, occasionally bulging mammillose, cell walls smooth; alar cells differentiated or not, when distinct, hyaline or reddish brown, inflated, thin-walled or incrassate, basal laminal cells mostly rectangular, thin-walled or incrassate, occasionally pitted, upper laminal cells quadrate to rectangular or oval, leaf border present in some taxa. Vegetative propagation by microphyllous branches, deciduous leaves or stem tips, or anisophyllous brood leaves in the axils of the upper leaves. Dioicous or autoicous. Perichaetia terminal, or occasionally pseudolateral by stem innovations, perichaetial leaves often different in shape, from sheathing base subulate. Seta mostly elongate (1-4 cm), rarely short (<1 cm) or almost absent, erect, in few genera flexuose, cygneously curved and twisted. Capsule immersed to more commonly exserted, inclined to suberect or erect, symmetric to asymmetric, short long-cylindrical to ovoid-cylindrical or ovoid,, smooth or furrowed when dry and empty; stomata present or absent; annulus present or absent. Operculum conical to long-rostrate. Peristome single, teeth 16, mostly divided 1/2 or more toward base, vertically striate below, distally papillose to papillose throughout. Calyptra cucullate, smooth, naked, base entire or ciliate. Spores almost smooth to coarsely papillose.
120
The development of and the changes in the classification of bryophytes are shown over the last two centuries. It is shown that, except for an early period, the bryophyte system was never totally revised but was always only slightly improved, in which the ideas of a bryophyte system has undergone some kind of evolution but was never drastically changed. Neither the evolution theory in the last century nor the results of cytology, phytochemistry, computerbased studies or genetics in this century had drastically altered the bryophyte system. The reasons for the never totally changed but always slightly improved classification of bryophytes seem to be that recognition of systematic units is based on certain principles such as hierachical classification, types and algorithms of comparison. Therefore it is postulated that no general changes in the classification of bryophytes are to be expected in the future.
122
Since the existence of Nilgiri hills, bryophyte- the miniatures of plant kingdom play an important and crucial role in the stabilization of Blue Mountains ecology. Unlike Himalayas, the landslides were rare in the area, but with the time and changing global environment it had become a common sight. Significantly ever increasing population and vehicular traffic is the prime reason for them, to cater the need, roads are periodically broadened by cutting road sides destroying the habitat as also the inhabiting species. Bryophytes, are efficient soil binders that regulate the soil moisture and provide substrate for future plant succession. The habitat loss and nudeness of substratum gives impetus to rapid soil erosion that further enhances the problem of their very survival. The present communication provides significance of these avascular cryptogams in environmental assessment, ecological balance and their role in decreasing the pore pressure to check land slides.
127
Germinating tests with bryophytes were undertaken with three moss species and two hepatic species. For the first time these tests were performed with aquaceous extracts of bryophytes in contrast to previous studies in which seeds were directly placed on moist bryophytes. First tests showed an inhibition of the germination rate in 3 species but an increase of the germination in one species. A second study revealed that aquaceous as well as alcoholic extracts in high concentrations inhibited the growth of cress, highly diluted extracts promoted the growth. Other authors found either only germination promoting effects or both, promoting and inhibiting effects. Experiments with compounds extracted from bryophytes cited in the literature had only growth inhibiting effects. Brachythecium rutabulum revealed growth inhibiting effects in a previous but growth promoting effects in this study. The conflicting results are hard to explain and should stimulate further more detailed studies. They maybe due to various combinations of different concentrations of bryophyte extracts, different bryophyte species, different pH and different seeds but also contamination by dust, soil, bacteria and fungi .
149
A catalogue of 107 species of liverworts (Marchantiophyta) and 8 species of hornworts (Anthocerotophyta), recorded from Assam, India is presented. This includes three new records for India viz., Cololejeunea denticulata (Horik.) S. Hatt., C. inflata Steph., Plagiochila furcifolia Mitt., and three species viz., Cololejeunea desciscens Steph. Colura ari (Steph.) Steph., Lopholejeunea eulopha (Taylor) Schiffn. new to mainland. Twelve species are new record for Eastern Himalayan bryo-geographical territory, 20 species as new to Assam and seven species are endemic to Indian regions.
145
District Rajouri harbours a rich floral and faunal diversity besides varying climatic zones namely sub-tropical, temperate and alpine. The region exhibit significant altitudinal variations ranging from 490 m. to 4700 m. The present study was conducted to report bryophytic elements of the study area as there is no previous work done on this aspect from the study area, except some stray references. A total of 44 bryophyte species belonging to 4 orders, 16 families and 21 genera were reported from the study area. A checklist of the reported plant species with family, distributional range and habitat is presented in the paper. Besides contributing to the regional and national biodiversity check list database, the present study has opened up a new window for the future studies on the various aspects of the reported taxa including extensive exploration for the updation of the present list and to study the conservational aspects of the disappearing bryoflora of the region.
146
The determination of complete DNA sequence of mitochondrial genome of liverwort, Marchantia polymorpha, opens the way to study the structure and organization of mitochondrial genomes of bryophytes. Since then several studies to sequence mitochondrial genomes of various plant groups have been made. Consequently 71 mitochondrial genomes (as on September 28, 2012) of Viridiplantae are available in organelle genome resources database at National Center for Biotechnology Information. Among these mitochondrial genomes the lineage sampling of bryophytes are poorly represented with only three liverworts, two mosses and two hornworts. The present review deals with features of sequenced mitochondrial genomes of bryophytes.
143
Since the availability of first complete DNA sequence of chloroplast genome of Marchantia polymorpha several studies to determine the structure and organization of chloroplast genomes of various plant groups have been made. However the lineage sampling of bryophytes are poorly represented in complete chloroplast genome sequences (only three liverworts, two mosses and one hornwort). This review presents features of sequenced chloroplast genomes of bryophytes.
144
Leptodontium styriacum shall be distinguished from the closely related L. flexifolium by the frequent occurrence of gemmae, leaves ending in a hyaline cell and larger laminal cells. A critical evaluation of these characters revealed that these differences are obsolete. Therefore both species are synonymised with the result, that L. flexifolium has a disjunct range between the oceanic parts of Europe and the Alps, a distribution pattern also found in several other species.
134
A preliminary study has been made for Borail Wild Life Sanctuary, Assam, India. A total of 25 species of liverwort (Marchantiophyta) and one species of hornwort (Anthocerotophyta) have been enumerated. Of these, Frullania berthoumieuii is new to India, Caudalejeunea reniloba new to North East India, 13 species new to Assam and 11 species are reported for the first time from Borail WLS. Folioceros paliformis is rediscovered after its type.
139
Scopelophila cataractae, a species on heavy metal rich substrates, was first recorded for Europe in 1967 from Britain and subsequently recorded from many localities contaminated with heavy metal especially around zinc works. It was found in Germany on schist-walls nearby mines from the nineteenth century. This could indicate that the species was present in Europe already prior to 1967 but overlooked. Records even from solid rock nearby mines suggest a status as native species, however, the species had not been observed in the inrtensively floristically studied region before 1870.
136
The habitat as well as the unicellular thallus margins of Aneura maxima lead to the assumption that this species could be a hygromorphosis of A. pinguis. Therefore specimens of A. pinguis were cultivated in water. Even after four months the multicellular thallus margins were retained, which proved to be a stable character to separate A. pinguis from A. maxima. Therefore plants even with a small unistratose border, which are attributed to aquatic forms of A. pinguis, may belong to A. maxima. It is supposed that A. maxima was overlooked in Europe but regarded as aquatic forms of A. pinguis named as fo. rivularis. Such plants show unicellular thallus margins and are regarded as hygrophytic form of A. maxima. The presence viz. absence of an unicellular thallus margin seems to be a sufficient character to separate both species. The discussion about the width of the unistratose thallus margin is useless because the type of A. maxima has only 2-4 rows of unicellular cells and not 6-12 or more as attributed by European hepaticologists. This raises doubts whether the European material is identical with A. maxima rather with A. pellioides from Japan.