A key to the New World species of holostipous Lejeuneaceae

A synopsis and key emphasizing vegetative characters are provided for the 967species (in 36 genera) of Lejeuneaceae with undivided underleaves recorded from the New World

Threatened bryophytes of the neotropical rain forest : a status report

Tropical deforestation, inevitably, leads to the local loss of bryophyte species. Recent studies show that the degree of species loss may vary considerably and depends on the scale or amount of habitat change that has occurred. Predictably, the shade epiphytes are most seriously affected by disturbance. An estimated 10% of the bryophyte species of neotropical rain forests are under threat. Based on data from recent monographs, a first list of 19 endangered and 27 rare species of these forests is presented. Critical areas for threatened species include Costa Rica and Panama, the Greater Antilles, the Chocó, southeastern Brazil, and parts of Amazonia. Protection of as much as possible of the remaining natural rain forest area seems the best approach to the conservation of the tropical bryophyte flora

Diversity and distribution of Asian Lejeuneaceae subfamily Ptychanthoideae

A synopsis is provided of 88 species in 17 genera currently recognized in Lejeuneaceae subfamily Ptychanthoideae sensu lato (including Nipponolejeunea) of Asia. Taxonomic novelties include Thysananthus flavescens (Hatt.) comb. nov. (for Mastigolejeunea flavescens (Hatt.) Mizut.), Spruceanthus macrostipulus (Steph.) comb. nov. (for Archilejeunea macrostipula (Steph.) Verd.) and the reduction of Platylejeunea Mizut. to synonymy under Lopholejeunea

Bryophyte diversity along an altitudinal gradient in Darién National Park, Panama

A bryophyte inventory along an altitudinal gradient on Cerro Pirre (1200 m), Darién National Park, Panama, demonstrates that the different rain forest types along the gradient (inundatedlowland, hillside-lowland, submontane, montane elfin forest) have very different species assemblages. The montane forest has the largest number of exclusive species and the largest bryophyte biomass. Species richness is greatest in the submontane forest. The bryophyte flora of Cerro Pirre is not exceedingly rich in species owing to the rather low elevation of the mountain and the seasonal climate in the adjacent coastal plain. Nevertheless, the distinct altitudinal diversification and the occurrence of a considerable number of rare hepatic taxa, demonstrate the importance of Darién National Park as an area of plant conservation. Forty hepatic species are reported as new to Panama

The genus Radula (Hepaticae) in the Galapagos Islands

Seven species of Radula are reported from the Galapagos Islands, including Radula santacruziana spec. nov. The majority of the species are common and widespread in the neotropics; two (including the new species) are endemic to the Galapagos. R. cornucopiae Spruce and R. mollis Lindenb. et Gott. are reduced to synonymy, resp. under R. episcia Spruce and R. quadrata Gott. et al

On the occurrence of bryophytes and macrolichens in different lowland rain forest types at Mabura Hill, Guyana

A floristic and ecological study of bryophytes and macrolichens in different lowland rain forest types around Mabura Hill, Guyana, South America, yielded 170 species: 52 mosses, 82 liverworts and 36 macrolichens. Lejeuneaceae account for about 30% of the species and are the dominant cryptogamic family of the lowland rain forest. Special attention was paid to the flora of the forest canopy, by using mountaineering techniques. It appeared that 50% of the bryophyte species and 86% of the macrolichens occurred exclusively in the canopy. Dry evergreen 'walaba' forest on white sand is particularly rich in lichens whereas the more humid 'mixed' forest on loamy soil is characterized by a rather rich liverwort flora. More species are exclusive to the mixed forest than to dry evergreen forest due to the 'canopy effect', i.e. the occurrence of xerophytic species in the outer canopy of both dry and humid forests. Furthermore, canopy species have wider vertical distributions on trees in the dry evergreen forest than in the mixed forest, due to the more open canopy foliage of the dry evergreen forest

Results of a botanical expedition to mount Roraima, Guyana. I. Bryophytes

A bryological inventory of the Upper Mazaruni District, Guyana (former British Guiana) yielded almost three hundred species, including 2 genera and 11 species new to science and 130 species new to the Guianas. The densely forested and very humid north slope of Mount Roraima (500-2300 m.) proved to be the richest area for bryophytes and most of the novelties were found there. The present paper provides an enumeration of the species collected with a brief characterization of their habitat. The following species are described as new: Haesselia acuminata Gradst., Plagiochila gymnocalyx Inoue, Radula gradsteinii Yamada, Radula guyanensis Yamada, Radula mazarunensis Yamada and Stenorrhipis grollei Gradst. Anastrophyllum subg. Vanaea Inoue & Gradst. from Mount Roraima is elevated to generic rank

Epiphytic bryophytes of Monteverde, Costa Rica

A survey of the literature and collections in the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve and adjacent pastureland yielded a total of 198 epiphytic bryophyte taxa (120 species of hepatics in 50 genera, 77 species of moss in 48 genera, and 1 hornwort): 178 in the primary forest, 63 in the secondary forest, and 84 in the pastureland

Diplasiolejeunea involuta Winkler : una especie poco conocida

Diplasiolejeunea involuta Winkler, a species formerly known only from El Salvador, was collected from shrubs in a non pure Sphagnum - Blechnum bog in Costa Rica. The plant is easily recognized by its large leaves, very convex lobes and very large lobules with obviously involute apex; the species has 3-7 oil bodies of the Jungermannia type per cell. Most characteristics of D. involuta fit with those of the subgenus Austrolejeuneopsis, the size of the underleaves are like those of the subgenus Diplasiolejeunea and the stout lobule covers up to 85% of the lobe, as in the subgenus Physolejeunea

A checklist of the hepatics and anthocerotes of Panamá

A brief account of the geography and floristic regions of Panamá is complemented with an historical account of the liverwort studies of this country. This is followed by an annotated checklist of 289 taxa, including 93 new for Panamá. Among these are four hornwort taxa that represent the first anthocerotes reported. Each checklist entry comprises proper taxon citation, collection data and/or bibliographic references.Una revisión de la geografía y regiones florísticas de Panamá es complementada con una nota histórica de los estudios sobre hepáticas de este país. Esto es seguido por una lista anotada de 289 taxa, incluyendo 93 que son nuevos para Panamá. Entre éstos se encuentran cuatro antocerotes que representan las primeras comunicaciones en esta División. Cada taxon ingresado contiene la citación apropiada, datos de colecta y/o referencias bibliográficas