This study documents the first records of the moss family Gigaspermaceae in Saudi Arabia. Two taxa were discovered in the southern and western highlands: Gigaspermum mouretii Corb., recorded from several granite slopes in Al Bahah and Mecca provinces, and Oedipodiella australis (Wager and Dixon) Dixon, found at multiple localities in the Asir Mountains. The material of G. mouretii is unequivocally paroicous and fertile, with sessile sporophytes bearing giant spores, thereby providing clear morphological support for its separation from G. repens. O. australis is sterile, as elsewhere outside South Africa, but readily identified by its characteristic apical gemma cups. Both species inhabit shaded sites on granitic or metamorphic substrates, typically in soil-filled pockets beneath boulders or on small ledges within open montane scrub and Juniperus procera woodland. These microhabitats provide partial shelter from solar radiation within generally xeric, steep slopes. To a certain extent, the new records reshape the biogeographical understanding of the family. G. mouretii extends its circum-Mediterranean pattern into Arabia, bridging the gap between Yemen and the Levant. O. australis, previously considered disjunct between southern Africa and Macaronesia/ southern Europe, now forms part of a broader Afro–Arabian–Mediterranean arc, suggesting long-term persistence in sheltered montane refugia rather than human-mediated introduction. These results show that the Arabian Peninsula occupies a central position between African and Mediterranean regions, and they emphasise how much remains to be discovered in its poorly surveyed mountain ranges.
The moss Bryum arachnoideum Müll.Hal. is reported from the Western Ghats of Kerala as new record for India. A detailed description and photographs are provided based on the fresh collections made during the explorations.
Lectotypes are designated for the names U. austro-indica G. Awasthi and U. ghattensis G. Awasthi.
Arnellia fennica (Gottsche) Lindb. is reported for the first time from Iceland, bridging a distribution gap between Greenland and Fennoscandia. The species was found in dry, organic-rich rock crevices on Miocene basalts, associated with a mostly calciphilous bryoflora. All individuals were female and lacked sporophytes, suggesting persistence through clonal fragmentation as in other disjunct populations. Its origin remains uncertain, possibly reflecting postglacial colonization from the Arctic or a glacial relict. This record highlights the need for targeted surveys and genetic analyses to clarify its biogeography and reproductive strategy.
Cleistocarpidium palustre is a bryophyte whose biology, ecology and phenology remain poorly understood due to its elusive behaviour. Field data collected during a targeted sampling campaign in 2025 across several regions of the Massif Central (France) and interpreted in light of earlier observations from 2022 revealed that only a small number of historical populations persist. The species colonises ecotones at the interface between peatlands and grasslands, characterised by distinctive microtopography shaped by moderate grazing, a high proportion of bare soil, sparse tracheophyte cover, and often a strong dominance of Juncus effusus. The gemmae of C. palustre have been described and illustrated; they are produced on the protonemal filaments, reinforcing the species' capacity for local vegetative propagation. These asexual propagules may contribute to its persistence in ephemeral or disturbed habitats. Although C. palustre has historically been regarded as an early-season species, recent observations show that mature individuals can be found in late summer, autumn, and even winter. Both its ecological niche and phenological pattern are consistent with a competition–-avoidance strategy, enabling it to exploit open microhabitats before the establishment of tracheophytes or later-successional bryophytes.
