J. Nat. Hist. Mus. Vol. 23, 2008, 19-26
A DIVERSITY ACCOUNT OF BRYACEAE (BRYOPHYTA: MUSCI)
OF NEPAL
N. Pradhan and S. D Joshi
Abstract
Bryums are diverse mosses distributed widely throughout the country. The species diversity
of Bryaceae which were documented in various periods has been presented here. This
paper includes 82 species including three subspecies and five varieties under seven genera
of the total recorded 1150 bryofloral species in Nepal so far. Besides published records, the
field survey of the first author within last five years has also been included here.
Key words: Bryoflora, cosmopolitan, diversity, distribution, species
Introduction
Bryaceae is a large and cosmopolitan family which includes genera of considerable
taxonomic difficulties. Basically, this family has interesting genera with odd gametophytic
structures including acrocarpous stems and unicostate leaves with acute apex. This is a
small to robust plant, commonly known as Hump moss, Silver moss, Thread moss, etc. It
bears an erect solitary or branched stem. Leaves are arranged spirally and are usually small
and distant below, equally spaced and occasionally form a rosette or structured differently.
Gemmae are often present. Plant may be autoecious or dioecious, sometimes synoecious.
Sporophytes generally bear pendulous capsules which are spherical and lightly papillose.
Andrew (1935) suggested that the family might best be understood as a single large natural
genus Bryum.
Mitten (1859) has enumerated 52 species of Bryum including 17 species from Nepal. Noguchi
et al. (1966) enumerated 13 species of Bryum which were collected by Dr. Yoda during the
East Himalayan Expedition in 1963. The second work of Noguchi (1966) during the first
phase of the East Himalaya Expedition in 1960 and 1963 came up with a list of 26 species
and four varieties including 14 species from Nepal. Noguchi's next work (1971) added three
more species collected during the second phase Expedition of the Eastern Himalaya.
Gangulee (1974) recorded 35 species in eastern Nepal.
The notable work of Iwatsuki (1979a) brought out a list of 13 species of bryaceae from
Central Nepal which was reported during Kochi Himalaya Expedition of 1976. Similarly, the
East Himalayan Expedition of Chiba University in 1977 added 18 more species (Iwatsuki
1979b) to the overall list. Hedderson and Harold (1990) has added a new moss species
Plagiobryum duthiei Broth. ex. Hedderson & Harold recorded from western and central Nepal.
Other notable works on Nepalese Bryaceae were done by Karczmarz (1981) who reported
five species in Kathmandu.Valley. Higuchi and Takaki (1990) enumerated 41 species in the
central and eastern regions. Kattel and Adhikari (1992) presented a list of 62 species and
two varities in their publication. The recent work of Pradhan (2000a) brought out a list of 78
20
J. Nat. Hist. Mus. Vol. 23, 2008
species and four varities under six genera collected at different localities of the country.
Pradhan (2000b) in her study recorded 15 species of Bryum from Phulchowki of Central
midland. Likewise, Pradhan and Shrestha (2002) recorded 26 species from the alpine zone.
Long (1995) made an interesting study on the type localities of some bryaceae occurring at
different ecological zones of the country.
Materials and Methods
Various habitat preferences can be found among the members of this family. Specimens
were collected by peeling off the substrate; generally a small knife was used very carefully for
this purpose. All the collected materials were placed in hand made paper packets with
proper field notes. These specimens were dried in mild sun for an hour or so to evaporate
moisture content of the specimens. These specimens later were identified at the Natural
History Museum, Swayanbhu and Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University,
Kathmandu. Some specimens were also tallied in Museum for these specimens besides
consulting relevant literatures like Watson and Richards (1968), Gangulee (1974), Nyholm
(1974), Chopra (1975), Eddy (1996), and Allen (2002). The author's names were checked
consulting Brummitt and Powell (1992). The website of MOBOT was used to check the
accepted names.
Results
The report includes 82 species including three subspecies and five varieties belonging to
seven genera of Bryaceae which are provided below in tabulated form. This also includes
some species recorded by the foreign expedition team to the central and east Himalayas,
besides authors' own field research across the country. The distribution of every species has
been provided region wise with altitudinal ranges and status category. They are arranged
alphabetically.
Table1. Species diversity of Bryaceae in listed form
S.
No.
Scientific names
W
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Anomobryum auratum (Mitt.) A. Jaeger
Bryum auratum Mitt.
Anomobryum cymbifolium (Lindb.) Broth.
Brachymnium filiforme Griff.
Anomobryum filiforme (Dicks.) Husn.
Bryum filiforme Dicks.
Anomobryum filiforme ssp. concinnatum
(Spruce) Loeske
Bryum filiforme var. concinnatum (Spruce)
Boulter
Anomobryum germigenum Broth.
Bryum germigerum (Broth.) E. B. Bartram
Anomobryum polymorphum Dixon
Bryum indicopolymorphum Ochi
Anomobryum yasudae Broth.
Bryum yasudae (Broth.) Ochi
Brachymenium acuminatum Harv.
Brachymenium bryoides Hook.
Brachymenium capitulatum (Mitt.) Kindb.
Brachymenium indicum (Dozy & Molk.)
Bosch & Lacey
Distributional
Ranges
C
E
+
+
Altitudinal
Differences
m.
1700-2900
+
Status
R
T
+
+
2000-2200
R
+
+
1500-41000
C
1200-2700
M
1600-2100
R
1350
R
250-3000
1900-2000
1500-2600
2720
T
T
C
R
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Remarks
Pradhan and Joshi : A Diversity Account of.................21
S.
No.
Scientific names
W
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
Brachymenium longicolle Ther.
Brachymenium longidens Renner & M. A.
Cardenas
Brachymenium microstomum Harv.
Brachymenium nepalensis Hook.
Brachymenium ochianum Gangulee
Brachymenium ptychothecium (Besch.) Ochi
Brachymenium splachnoides Harv.
Bryum algovicum Sendtn. ex C. Muell.
Bryum alpinum Huds. ex With.
Bryum angustirete Kindb.
Bryum apiculatum Schwaegr.
B. plumosum Dozy & Molk.
B. nitens Hook.
Bryum argenteum Hedw.
Bryum argenteum var. lanatum (P. Beauv.)
Hampe
+
+
Altitudinal
Differences
m.
1700-3400
3700
Status
1500-2900
2000-2600
3600-4200
+
T
M
M
R
T
R
C
R
R
+
+
+
+
3900
3300
4400
150-4400
+
+
800-5100
C
+
1600-1900
M
+
+
2600
3300-4200
C
M
+
3900
300-4800
900-1300
R
C
C
900-1300
T
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
350-4850
150-1000
R
C
+
+
+
500-4600
M
2000
2000-4000
1400-2000
R
M
R
R
R
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Remarks
R
R
+
+
+
Bryum atrovirens Vilh. ex Brid.
B. erythrocarpum Schwaegr.
Bryum billardieri Schwaegr.
Bryum blandum Hook. f. & Wilson spp.
handelii (Broth.) Ochi
B. setschwanicum Broth.
Bryum bohnhofii C. Muell. ex Broth.
Bryum caespiticium Hedw.
Bryum capillare Hedw.
Bryum cellulare Hook.
Brachymenium splachnoides Harv.
B. splachnoides (Harv.) Muell. Hal.
Bryum clavatum (Schimp.) C. Muell.
Bryum coronatum Schwaegr.
B. doliolum Duby
Bryum dichotomum Hedw.
B. bicolor Dixon
Bryum evanidinerve Broth.
Bryum funariodes Ochi
Bryum haematoneurum C. Muell.
Bryum knowltonii Barnes
Bryum leptotorquescens C. Muell. ex. Broth.
Bryum leucophylloides Broth.
Bryum pachytheca C. Muell.
Bryum pallescens Schleich. ex Schwaegr.
B. tibetanum Mitt.
Bryum paradoxum Schwaegr.
B. teretiusculum Hook.
Bryum pellucidum (Dixon & Badhw.) Ochi
Bryum petelotii Thér. & R. Henry
Brachymenium exile (Dozy & Molk.) Bosch
& Lacey
Bryum pseudotriquetrum (Hedw.) P. Gaertn.
B. ventricosum Relhan
Distributional
Ranges
C
E
+
+
+
Erosion control
Food values
(birds); heavy
metal detector;
Ornamental
value (bonsai)
Resistant to
Pollution
Common in
lowland
+
3000-3900
3000-4000
1400-1500
5000
+
+
1600-2900
T
+
+
+
1400-2900
C
Soil Ph indicator,
use for bonasai
+
+
2900-6100
C
Rock builder
+
1700-1900
47
Bryum recurvulum var. flexicaule (C. Muell.)
Ochi
B. flexicaule C. Muell.
Bryum ramosum (Harv.) Hook.
T
Harvey 124
(TCD)
Wallich H3650
(BM)
48
Bryum reflexifolium (Ochi) Ochi
+
2000-2500
49
Bryum retusifolium M.A.Cardenas et P. Vard.
+
1500-1900
42
43
44
45
46
+
R
22
S.
No.
J. Nat. Hist. Mus. Vol. 23, 2008
Scientific names
W
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
Bryum rostratum Schrad. ex. Sm.
Bryum salakense M.A. Cardenas
Bryum subrotundum Brid.
Bryum teretiusculum var. reflexifolium (Ochi)
Ochi
Bryum thomsonii Mitt.
Bryum trachyrhizon C. Muell.
Bryum turbinatum (Hedw.) Turner
Bryum wrightii Mitt.
Mielichhoferia macrophylla Ochi
Mielichhoferia mielichhoferi (Hook.) Wijk &
Margad var. noguchinnum Gangulee
Mielichhoferia sasaokae Broth.
Plagiobryum demissum (Hook.) Lindb.
Plagiobryum duthiei Broth. ex Hedd. &
Harold
Plagiobryum giraldii (C. Muell.) Par.
Bryum giraldii C. Muell.
Pohlia acuminata Hoppe & Hornsch.
Pohlia camptotrachela (Renner &
M.A.Cardenas) Broth.
Pohlia cruda (Hedw.) Lindb.
Bryum longescen C. Muell.
Webera cruda (Hedw.) Fuener.
Pohlia crudoides (Sull. & Lesq.) Broth.
Pohlia crudoides var. revolvens
(M.A.Cardenas ) Ochi
Pohlia elongata Hedw.
Webera elongata (Hedw.) Schwaegr.
Pohlia flexuosa Hook.
P. scabridens (Mitt.) Broth.
Pohlia flexuosa var. propagulifera (Renner &
M.A. Cardenas ) Gangulee
72
Pohlia leucostoma (Bosch. & Lacey) M.
Fleisch.
73
Pohlia leucostomoides (Broth.) Ochi
74
Pohlia longicollis (Hedw.) Lindb.
75
Distributional
Ranges
C
E
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
Altitudinal
Differences
m.
Status
2000
R
2600-3500
C
2600-4300
4100
4200-4500
1800-3800
2400
+
+
+
+
+
3950
R
+
+
+
2700-4100
1100-2100
C
R
+
+
3800-4500
C
+
+
+
3200-3900
4200
C
1500-4400
C
1300-2000
C
1500
C
1400-2300
C
+
+
+
+
+
+
370-4400
3800
3300-4500
R
R
M
R
T
R
M
T
+
550-3400
C
+
3300-3500
C
Pohlia microstoma (Harv.) Ochi
+
2800-6250
R
76
Pohlia minor Schieich. ex Schwaegr. ssp.
acuminata (Hoppe & Hornsch.) Wijk &
Margad.
Webera acuminata (O. Hopp. & Hornsch.)
Schimp.
+
3000-4300
R
77
Pohlia nutans (Hedw.) Lindb.
Webera nutans
+
3600-4200
C
78
Pohlia proligera (Kindb.) Broth.
P. camptotrochela var. vestitissima (Sak.)
Ochi
+
1500-4500
C
79
Pohlia wahlenbergii (F. Weber & Mohr.) A.L.
Andrews
1800-2100
R
80
Rhodobryum giganteum (Schwaegr.) Par.
Bryum giganteum (Schwaegr.) Arnott
+
1000-2700
M
81
Rhodobryum laxe-limbatum (Ochi) Z. Iwats.
& Takaki
Bryum laxe-limbatum Hampe ex. Ochi
+
2500-2600
R
82
Rhodobryum roseum (Hedw.) Limpr.
Bryum roseum Hedw.
1000-4000
M
+
+
+
+
Remarks
Zimmermann
555a (BM)
Voucher
No.634b
Highest known
alt. record of
Bryaceae in the
world.
Ornamental and
medicinal uses
Ornamental uses
Pradhan and Joshi : A Diversity Account of.................23
Discussion
A total of 82 species including three subspecies and five varieties belonging to seven genera
of Bryaceae have been reported in this study mainly from the lowland to the alpine zones of
Nepal. The species number of each genus is presented below in bar diagram (Fig.1) and
percentage in pie chart (Fig. 2). Pohlia microstoma (Harv.) Ochi has been recorded from
2800-6250 m. This was reported for the first time by Norkett (6910) in 1961 and is deposited
at the British Museum, London. The lowland members of Bryaceae which occur below 1000
m and distributed up to 5100 m are Brachymenium acuminatum Harv. (250-1800 m), Bryum
apiculatum Schwaegr (150-4400 m), B. argenteum Hedw, (800-5100 m), B. caespiticum
Hedw, (300-4800 m), B. capillare Hedw. (900-1300 m), B. coronatum Schwaegr. (150-1100
m), B. clavatum (350-4850 m), B. dichotomus Hedw. (500-4600 m), Pohlia leucostomoides
(Broth.) Ochi (550 3400 m) and three species of Rhodobryum. Bryum coronatum is the
most common species of Bryaceae which occurs in tropical regions only. This study also
came up with a list of ten Type Specimens. Studies have shown that the high diversity of
Bryaceae was found at subtropical to temperate zones than tropical and alpine regions.
Some members of this family carry significant economical values. Such species include
Rhodobryum giganteum (Giant Bryum) is used to cure angina in China (Glime and Keen,
1984). Similarly, Bryum algovicum Sendtn. ex C. Muell. (Drooping Thread Moss) growing in
sandy area has an amazing ability to check erosion (Crum, 1973). The experiment conducted
in Japan testified that Bryum argenteum can be used as a bioindicator of the atmospheric
pollution (Taoda 1972). Glime and Saxena (1991) have mentioned that certain species of
Bryum can alleviate pain caused mainly by cut and burn.
Fig.1. Bar diagram showing species diversity of Bryaceae
24
J. Nat. Hist. Mus. Vol. 23, 2008
Fig. 2. Pie chart showing percentage of species of Bryaceae
Anomobryum - 7 species
Brachymenium -11 species
Bryum -39 species
Mielichhoferia - 3 species
Plagiobryum -3 species
Pohlia -16 species
Rhodobryum -3 species
Acknowledgement
Our thanks go to Prof. Dr. P. K. Jha, Head, Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University
for providing us laboratory facilities and Prof. K. B. Shah, Chief of the Natural History Museum
for his cooperation in our research.
References
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10: 404.
Eddy, A. (1996). A Handbook of Malaysian Mosses. The Nat. Hist. Mus., London 3: 117-183.
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Pradhan and Joshi : A Diversity Account of.................25
Glime, J. M. and Keen, R.E. (1984). The importance of Bryophytes in a Man-centered world.
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of Nepal:11-18
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J. Nat. Hist. Mus. Vol. 23, 2008
Abbreviations:
BM
British Museum
C
Central, Common
E
East, Edinburgh Herbarium
GL
Glasgow University Herbarium
W
West
T
Type
M
Medium
m
Meter
R
Rare
TCD Harvey's Herbarium in Dublin
+
Distribution
Author's Address
1
Mrs. Nirmala Pradhan and 2Dr. Sanu Devi Joshi
Natural History Museum, Tribhuvan University, Swayambhu, Kathmandu, Nepal
2
Central Department of Botany, Tribhuvan University, Kirtipur, Kathmandu, Nepal
1
Submitted Date: October 7, 2007
Accepted Date: February 6, 2008