Fumaroles generate steep microclimatic and edaphic gradients that allow bryophyte communities to persist where the surrounding landscape is too dry or extreme. To explore this phenomenon, we surveyed bryophytes across the Khaybar White Volcano Geopark (north-western Saudi Arabia) during two field campaigns in 2024 and 2025, using a systematic 5 & times; 5 km grid to reduce spatial bias. Within fumarolic habitats, we counted vents by diameter class (0-2, 2-10, 10-50, >50 cm) in GPS-referenced plots and recorded bryophyte presence and abundance following the Braun-Blanquet scale. Across 188 relev & eacute;s distributed among 11 fumarolic sites, we collected 1806 records representing 37 bryophyte taxa - about 72% of the 51 species known from the entire Geopark. Thirteen species were found exclusively in fumarolic microhabitats, and seven showed tropical or paleotropical affinities. Statistical analyses (Spearman correlations, n = 188) revealed that both species richness and cumulative abundance were highest in plots containing more medium-sized vents. These values declined near larger vents (>50 cm) and showed no clear relationship for smaller ones (<= 10 cm). The association between medium vent abundance and bryophyte richness remained consistent across sites. Tropical species richness did not vary systematically with vent size but was clearly structured by orientation, with northerly and north-easterly slopes hosting most tropical taxa. Even so, the results suggest that clusters of medium-sized fumaroles create locally buffered conditions that support bryophyte establishment in this hyper-arid volcanic setting. We propose a preliminary Bryothermal Index (BTI) that integrates community-level indicators - species richness, abundance, and the proportion and fertility of hygrophilous or tropical-affinity taxa - to estimate geothermal influence. Future research should include high-frequency temperature and humidity logging, gas and substrate analyses, and replicated transects around vents to clarify mechanisms and validate the BTI. Despite their small extent (<1 ha), the Khaybar fumaroles stand out as microrefugia and should be considered for targeted micro-reserve protection and long-term ecological monitoring.
Macromitrium sulcatum (Hook.) Brid. is widely distributed in sub-Saharan Africa, South Asia, Indochina, Southeast Asia and Yunnan province of China. Our examination of its type and ordinary specimens showed that the species highly varied in the outline, basal cells, apical cells and upper margins of its branch leaves. On the phylogenetic tree based on trnL-F, trnG and ITS2, seventeen samples formed a strongly supported clade, which were morphologically associated with the types of M. sulcatum and its previous synonyms including M. seriatum Paris & Broth., M. ceylanicum Mitt., M. belangeri M & uuml;ll. Hal. and M. bequaertii Th & eacute;r. & Naveau, as well as those of M. lorifolium Paris & Broth., M. muellerianum Mitt., M. pseudoramentosum Herzog and M. turgidum Dixon. In this study, we compared the types and ordinary specimens of these species and found that the variations of the later four species fall within the morphological variation range of M. sulcatum. Therefore, we treated them as new synonyms of M. sulcatum.
The first checklist of bryophytes from R & eacute;union, published in 2005, recorded 621 species for the island. Nearly 20 years later, the total number of bryophyte species reported has increased to 822. This significant growth in knowledge results from ongoing floristic exploration, and ecological studies examining diversity across elevational gradients. We here report 500 species of mosses, 313 species of liverworts, and nine species of hornworts, including 16 moss, 20 liverwort, and three hornwort taxa that are newly recorded for R & eacute;union. Unsurprisingly, endemism levels have decreased with increased knowledge of the local and regional flora. Forty-nine bryophyte species are endemic (6 %), comprising 36 mosses and 13 liverworts. We also indicate taxa described based on type material from either R & eacute;union or the wider Madagascar region, and provide references linking each name to its first published report on the island. Future research on the flora should focus on clarifying the taxonomy of poorly known taxa. Additionally, targeted collecting efforts and inventories will help improve our understanding of species distributions, which is essential for informed conservation planning.
The genus Ignatovia U.B.Deshmukh comprises the sole species Ignatovia microphylla (Ignatov & Ignatova) U.B.Deshmukh, which has been thus far known only from Russia. During our recent expeditions to Shangfangshan National Forest Park in Beijing, China, we encountered an interesting moss that can be assignable to I. microphylla, characterized by small leaves, round to oblate and thick-walled lamina cells that are somewhat bulging abaxially, nearly homogeneous thick-walled cells in the cross-section of the stem, a cross-section of the costa without stereids, and triangular inner perichaetial leaves. Molecular phylogenetic analyses based on nrITS1-5.8S-ITS2 and trnL-F further support the morphological identification. Our finding represents the first report of I. microphylla outside Russia, a new generic record for China. Additionally, we assembled and annotated its organelle genomes. The results showed that the complete chloroplast genome is 124 918 base pairs (bp) in length with 29.2% GC content, consisting of 82 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. The complete mitogenome is 103 161 bp in length with a GC content of 41.0%, comprising 40 protein-coding genes, 24 tRNA genes, and three rRNA genes. The discovery of I. microphylla could lay the foundation for investigating biogeographical patterns and species evolution in further studies.
Last decade is considered as warmer than previous ones. Epiphytic bryophytes are known as quickly reacting on microclimate changes. The question whether occurrence and spread of epiphytic bryophytes in cities is presently facilitated or limited due to warming was studied through a comparison of species diversity, frequency and abundance in 2013 and 2023 in 109 research plots situated in central part of the Wroc & lstrok;aw city. In result an increase in the total number of inhabited trees and the total area covered with epiphytes was evidenced, especially on built-up areas and streets. Fourteen species have shown an upward trend while six-the opposite tendency. An increase in the richness of obligatory epiphytes was found (five, including three new for Wroc & lstrok;aw) but no new thermophilic species appeared. Two of newly found epiphytes are considered as sensitive to the air pollution. So bryofloristical changes seem to result from the improvement of the air purity not warming. Improving air purity could caused, with high probability, also the expansion of resistant to pollution epiphytes: Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw., Dicranoweisia cirrata (Hedw.) Lindb. ex Milde and Orthotrichum diaphanum Schrad. ex Brid. But the potential effect of the increased temperatures and frost-free winter months, observed in Wroc & lstrok;aw since 2019, on spread in the city of two thermophytic species, Orthotrichum pumilum Sw. ex anon and O. diaphanum, should be considered when explain these phenomena. The mixed impact of both processes seem to be probable. Parks and built-up areas differed in the intensity of species exchange of epiphytic bryophytes.
Nine Frullania Raddi species are reported new for Peru, belonging to F. subg. Chonanthelia Spruce (F. beauverdii Steph., F. cuencensis Taylor, F. holostipula S.Hatt. & D.G.Griffin, F. pluricarinata Gottsche, F. winteri Steph.), F. subg. Homotrophanta Spruce (F. nodulosa (Reinw., Blume & Nees) Nees), F. subg. Meteoriopsis Spruce (F. intumescens (Lehm. & Linden.) Lehm. & Lindenb. var. intumescens, F. lobatohastata Steph.) and one incertae sedis species (F. pyricalycina Steph.). Androecia are newly described for F. beauverdii Steph., a species previously considered endemic to Bolivia. Original material of F. tetraptera Nees & Mont. as well as additional Peruvian specimens of this species are dioicous and deviate from earlier published circumscriptions. Frullania conferta Spruce, formerly considered a synonym of F. tetraptera Nees & Mont., is reinstated as a distinct species based primarily on differences in its monoicous sexual condition as well as lobule, styli and gynoecial bract morphology. Another prior synonym of F. tetraptera, F. semiconnata Lindenb. & Gottsche, is newly proposed as a synonym of F. mexicana Lindenb. Frullania mexicana differs from F. tetraptera and F. conferta in its gynoecial bract morphology and number of perianth keels. Lectotypes are designated for F. conferta, F. cuencensis, F. semiconnata and F. tetraptera.
Iwatsukiella leucotricha (Mitt.) Buck & Crum., Andreaea alpestris (Thed.) Schimp., and Andreaea mutabilis Hook.f. & Wilson are newly recorded in T & uuml;rkiye and Southwest Asia, following a recent has been introduced as a new record for T & uuml;rkiye's bryophyte flora. This study provides brief descriptions, illustrations, and data on the geographic distribution and ecological preferences of these species, along with comparisons to morphologically similar species.
The new species Homaliodendron maolanense sp. nov. is described and illustrated based on its morphological and molecular evidence. The new species can be distinguished from all congeners by the combination of the following features: 1) plants strongly flattened and frondose; 2) secondary stems with bi-to tripinnate branches and a few foliose pseudoparaphyllia; 3) stem leaves rather asymmetric, strongly falcate, ovate-spathulate, widest at the middle, strongly tapered to base, with a truncate or apiculate apex, as well as double and distinct costae; 4) margins of stem leaves irregularly biserrate with 6-12 sharp teeth, the terminal tooth curved, larger than the others, multicellular, coarse and blunt, entire below; and 5) cells of stem leaves strongly incrassate and smooth, strongly porose at low and basal portions. A key and digital image are presented to separate H. maolanense sp. nov. from other nine Chinese species.
Sphagnum lindbergii Schimp., a moss species of circumpolar distribution, is reported for the first time in Spain and in the Iberian Peninsula. This discovery, made in the chalybeate springs in the Chistau Valley (Central Pyrenees), adds to the only Pyrenean population currently known, limited to the French Rioumajou Valley. The Spanish population comprises four small patches occupying an estimated 5 m2. We describe its morphology, emphasizing diagnostic traits, and its habitat, characterized by iron-rich flushes in acidic, sub-alpine environments. The population faces significant threats, including livestock trampling and climate change, prompting its classification as Critically Endangered (CR) following IUCN criteria. Conservation measures are urgently recommended given its extreme rarity in the Pyrenees.
Fissidens colliculosus Brugg.-Nann., sp. nov. is described. It is characterized by completely limbate vaginant laminae, tiny, convex, smooth laminal cells, excurrent costae and axillary antheridial buds. Its classification in subg. Polypodiopsis (M & uuml;ll.Hal.) Broth. is discussed. Furthermore, F. pellucidus var. ripensis (Mitt.) Brugg.-Nann., comb. nov., stat. nov. is proposed and diagnosed. It differs from var. pellucidus Hornsch. in its mucronate apices and taller shoots with up to 55 leaf pairs. Thirdly, F. sciophyllus Mitt. subsp. capeverdensis Brugg.-Nann., subsp. nov. is described. It differs from F. s. subsp. sciophyllus by short costae that end 2-10 cells below the apex and tapering, acute leaf tips. It is endemic to the Cape Verde islands. The Asian-Polynesian F. ceylonensis Dozy & Molk. is for the first time reported for mainland Africa under this name (formerly known as e.g. F. borgenii). Several new synonyms are proposed. Fissidens magnicellulatus Brugg.-Nann. is subsumed under F. aciphyllus Dixon in Dixon & Wager; F. borgenii Hampe, F. sarcophyllus M & uuml;ll.Hal. ex Dus., F. intralimbatulus Broth. & P.de la Varde, F. paucilimbatus P.de la Varde, F. aoristoloma P.de la Varde, F. intralimbatulus var. brevifolius P.de la Varde and F. norkettii P.de la Varde under F. ceylonensis; F. ugandae Dixon & P.de la Varde and F. gibbonii Bizot under F. ferrugineus M & uuml;ll.Hal.; F. alomoides M & uuml;ll.Hal. ex Dus & eacute;n under F. hymenodon Besch.; F. cryptarum M & uuml;ll.Hal. and F. cremersii Bizot & Onr. under F. pellucidus var. ripensis; F. grainvillei P.de la Varde under F. punctulatus Sande Lac.; F. nossianus Besch., F. motelayi Renauld & Cardot and F. ferrugineus var. pallidus Th & eacute;r. are subsumed under F. schweinfurthii (M & uuml;ll.Hal.) Paris). Fissidens ferrugineus and F. schweinfurthii are discussed, illustrated, diagnosed, and reinstated as species. The puzzling F. porrectus-complex is discussed, diagnosed, and some of its variants are illustrated. Fissidens subundatus Dury was described as pluripapillose, but appears to be mammillose. Its description is accordingly emended, the species is for the first time illustrated and a lectotype is designated. The species that are lectotypified or second-step-lectotypified in this paper are listed in the Appendix 1.
Physcomitrium allardiae N. Wilding & Ah-Peng, sp. nov. (Funariaceae) is described and illustrated based on a single collection from highlands in the Uluguru mountains of Tanzania. The new species was collected growing on soil, among a dense mat of liverworts, in high altitude Podocarpus-Allanblackia mist forest. Physcomitrium allardiae N. Wilding & Ah-Peng, sp. nov. can be distinguished from all other members of the genus by its strongly bordered leaves, sub-spherical, non-rostellate, capsules, and spores with baculate-insulate surface ornamentation.
Brachythecium turgidum (Hartm.) Kindb. is currently known in the Iberian Peninsula only from a few localities in the Pyrenees. In this work a new locality is reported for southern Spain (Granada, Sierra Nevada), that represents an important disjunction of the species in the Iberian Peninsula and Europe. Its ecological behavior is described and some fundamental taxonomical characters for its identification are corroborated and illustrated.
Feodor Jelenc (1911-2001), an overlooked botanist and bryologist, made a major contribution to the study of bryophytes in North Africa. His work laid the modern foundations for subsequent research on the bryophyte flora of the Maghreb and continues to influence current studies. A professor in Algeria until the country's independence, F & eacute;odor Jelenc later ended his career as a professor in Ch & acirc;tellerault. He is the author of several important publications on the flora of the western Massif Central. He was also actively involved in the Esperanto movement. Despite the loss of many original specimens, his herbarium collections and publications remain valuable resources for research in the Maghreb.
The genus Bazzania Gray (Lepidoziaceae, Marchantiophyta) was reviewed in several countries around New Caledonia, but the species of the local flora remain still imperfectly known and the oncoming survey of this flora often faces challenges in identifying new specimens. Some morphological characters used to differentiate the species are commented on, especially the insertion of the underleaves in relation to the ventral leaf bases. A review of types and reference specimens examined at G, PC and REN, together with about 250 recent vouchers collected mainly by the author allows characterization of 18 species based on morphological criteria and several taxonomic changes, mainly synonymies. Among the 18 species, seven are endemic: Bazzania bernieri (Steph.) Inoue & H.A.Mill., B. incrassata (Steph.) N.Kitag., B. paucidens (Steph.) H.A.Mill. and B. quadratistipula H.A.Mill. Environmental conditions may have a strong impact on some morphological characters, so, to support species circumscriptions, further studies are needed that take account of ecological data and use macromolecular analysis. Several years ago, chemical investigations were initiated and could help to consolidate species delineation. A key to the New Caledonian species is provided and each species described and illustrated.
A new, updated checklist of the bryophytes of Algeria was compiled from the literature. Reports were made mainly by French botanists in the 19th and first half of the 20th centuries and include a total of 498 taxa, of which 477 are at species level and the rest are at infraspecific rank. It comprises three hornwort species, 118 liverwort taxa (113 species), and 377 moss taxa (361 species). For each taxon, literature records and localities explored in the country are provided. The analysis of the current data reveals that Algeria is the Maghreb country with the second-largest number of bryophyte taxa, behind Morocco. As in other Mediterranean countries, hornworts and liverworts are scarce (24.3%), and mosses are dominant (75.7%). Concerning liverworts and hornworts, the family Ricciaceae and genus Riccia (31 taxa) are the best-represented; the aquatic and ephemeral genus Riella (8 taxa) shows the higher number of species in the Mediterranean countries. Regarding mosses, the family Pottiaceae is the largest one, with 107 taxa (28.4% of the moss taxa), and Tortula (22 taxa) is the most species-rich genus. Algeria has, by now, the lowest species/km2 ratio (0.20 x 10-3) compared to the rest of the Maghreb and some European Mediterranean countries (Greece, Italy, and Spain), due not only to the low degree of knowledge of the bryophyte flora but also to the larger surface area of the country and the great extension of the Saharan region. The high percentages of rare or very rare taxa (72.5%) versus the low percentages of frequent, common, and very common (27.5%) can be an indicator that many areas are still underexplored, and that the bryophyte flora of the country cannot be considered well-known. The revision or collection of new samples of some rare or doubtful taxa would be necessary to assess the reliability of some reports.
Pterygoneurum sampaianum (Guim.) Guim. is newly recorded in Tunisia and in France. Molecular data from French and Tunisian samples support the specific rank of P. sampaianum and allow for clear differentiation from P. ovatum (Hedw.) Dixon in cases where the morphology appears to be transitional between the species. By including a molecular phylogenetic analysis based on the sequence data obtained from European representatives of the genus, we could re-evaluate the phylogenetic affinities of P. sampaianum which was found to be close to the recently described P. papillosum Oesau. Based on the molecularly guided identifications, we provide an amended detailed description of P. sampaianum and report on ecological and chorological details of the newly recorded specimens.
Anomobryum apiculatum (Schwagr.) D.Bell & Holyoak is a widespread moss from tropical and subtropical areas of the world. It has been also reported from Europe. However, the recent re-evaluation of those records indicate they have been mistaken with unrelated Bryum Hedw. species and thus, its actual presence in Europe is doubtful. During independent bryological surveys, samples from two distant Mediterranean localities in Spain and Israel were collected. These samples differed from any other Bryaceae Rchb. species reported to date but matched the morphological traits described for A. apiculatum, which is here newly reported for Spain and Israel. A detailed morphological study of specimens from the two localities revealed conspicuous variation at vegetative traits related to leaf arrangement and shape. This variation in vegetative traits contrasted with the similarity of tubers. Plants from both populations showed rhizoidal and axillary tubers of the distinctive features described for A. apiculatum s.l., including their large size (166-359 mu m), brown to dark-brown colour and strongly protuberant cells. Tuber traits make A. apiculatum readily distinguishable from all other tuberous species of Bryum s.l. in the Mediterranean, including Ptychostomum rubens (Mitt.) Holyoak & N.Pedersen. This latter species also occurs on disturbed soil, and has axillary and rhizoidal tubers with protuberant cells, but with distinctive red colouration. Its leaves have a conspicuous limbidium, and are dentate in the upper part, contrasting with the entire margin and absence of limbidium in those of A. apiculatum. These traits allow a clear differentiation between both species.
Macromitrium japonicum Dozy & Molk. is an epiphytic moss mainly recorded from East Asia. To clarify its morphological variations and their potential genetic basis, we morphologically compared fourteen samples assigned to M. japonicum, and constructed a phylogenetic tree including these samples based on trnL-F, trnG and ITS2. On the phylogenetic tree, these fourteen samples formed a single clade, being characterized by the typical features of M. japonicum. Comparing the types of M. japonicum var. makinoi (Broth.) Nog., M. dickasonii Bartr. and M. polygonostomum Dixon & P. de la Varde with these samples, and the types of M. japonicum and its former synonyms including Dasymitrium incurvum Lind. and M. bathyodontum Cardot, we found that the variations of the former three species fall within the morphological variation range of the above fourteen samples and the types of M. japonicum, D. incurvum and M. bathyodontum. Therefore, we treated M. japonicum var. makinoi, M. dickasonii and M. polygonostomum as three new synonyms of M. japonicum. Macromitrium giraldii Mull.Hal. is excluded from the synonyms of M. japoncium and likely an acceptable species name. Additionally, M. japonicum is newly recorded for Myanmar.
The Lower Tocantins region, which includes the municipality of Abaetetuba, is located in the northeastern of Para state, in Eastern Amazonia, Brazil, presenting a heterogeneous set of forests, among which Terra Firme, Varzea, and Freshwater Beach forests stand out for their floristic, economic, and ecological significance. However, the bryophyte flora is poorly known in the Lower Tocantins, with only 51 moss species reported for the region. This study aimed to investigate the richness and composition of bryophytes in different types of forests in Abaetetuba, Lower Tocantins River basin, Para state, to contribute to the floristic knowledge of bryophytes in the region. Species diversity and exploratory analyses were conducted to understand the bryophyte communities in Terra Firme, Varzea, and Fresh-water Beach forests. The bryophyte flora recorded in Abaetetuba comprises 103 species (36 mosses and 67 liverworts), including widely distributed species in the three forest types and species restricted mainly to Terra Firme forests. There were two new records, one for South America (Cololejeunea setiloba A.Evans) and another for the state of Para (Leptolejeunea radicosa (Mont.) Grolle). The richness and composition of species in Terra Firme and Freshwater Beach forests align with what has been reported in studies conducted in the Lower Amazon, but yielded discrepant results from previous studies in Varzea forests. Regarding the colonization of substrates, the complexity of the structure of the communities increased from Freshwater Beach forests to Varzea and Terra Firme forests, in this order, with the appearance of terricolous species in Varzea forests and of species colonizing termite mounds in Terra Firme forests. These findings indicate that Amazonian environments, their biodiversity, and the distribution pattern of species can be better understood through the exploration of new areas.
New distributional data are presented for 12 species of moss collected from the Graham Coast and Danco Coast together with their offshore islands on the west side of the Antarctic Peninsula. Pohlia wahlenbergii (F.Weber & D.Mohr) A.L.Andrews is new to the Antarctic Peninsula and the Graham Coast and it is the southernmost station of the species, whereas Warnstorfia sarmentosa ( Wahlenb.) Hedenas is new to the Danco Coast. Schizymenium pusillum (Hook. & Wilson) A.J.Shaw is recorded for the first time on the Antarctic Peninsula mainland, and Schistidium rivulare ( Brid.) Podp. is found at its southernmost locality on Cape Perez on the mainland Graham Coast. Andreaea regularis Mull.Hal., Kiaeria pumila (Mitt.) Ochyra, Bucklandiella sudetica (Funck) Bedn.-Ochyra & Ochyra, Warnstorfia fontinaliopsis (Mull.Hal.) Ochyra and Pohlia nutans (Hedw.) Lindb. are new for Hovgaard Island in the Wilhelm Archipelago, and the latter is additionally recorded for the first time from Point Rasmussen on the mainland Graham Coast. Bryum pallescens Schleich. ex Schwagr. is new to Darboux Island, while Polytrichum juniperinum Hedw. and Brachythecium austroglareosum (Mull. Hal.) Kindb. are new to Lahille Island in the Grandidier Channel. Updated distribution maps for all species in the study areas of the Danco and Graham Coasts and the northern Antarctic Peninsula are presented. The moss floras of the Graham and Danco Coast regions consist currently of 51 and 47 species, respectively.
