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 Allen, B. (2002). Moss flora of Central America Part 2. Encalyptaceae-Orthotrichaceae. Missouri Botanical Garden Press: 289-420. Andrew, A. L. (1935). Bryaceae. In: A. J. Grout (ed.), Moss Flora of North America North of Mexico 2(3): 184-210. Published by the author, Newfane, Vermont. Brummit, R. K. and Powell, C.E. (1992). Authors of Plant Names. Royal Botanic Garden, Kew. Chopra, R.S. (1975). Taxonomy of Indian Mosses. CSIR, New Delhi, India. Crum, H. (1973). Mosses of the Great lakes forest. Contribution from the Michigan Herbarium 10: 404. Eddy, A. (1996). A Handbook of Malaysian Mosses. The Nat. Hist. Mus., London 3: 117-183. Gangulee, H.C. (1974). Mosses of Eastern India and Adjacent Regions 4: 888-1022. Calcutta. 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. J. Hatt. Bot. Lab. 55:133-146. Glime, J. M. and Saxena, D. (1991). Uses of Bryophytes. Today Tomorrow's Pubs., India Hedderson, T.A. & Harold, A.S. (1990). Plagiobryum duthiei, a new species from Nepal. Linbergia 16:51-54. Higuchi, H. and Takaki, N. (1990). Mosses from Nepal collected by Botanical Expeditions of National Science Museum, Tokyo. Cryptogams of the Himalaya Central and Eastern Nepal M. Watanabe and S. B. Malla (eds.). National Sci. Mus., Tsukuba, Japan 2:132-139. Iwatsuki, Z. (1979a). Mosses from Central Nepal collected by the Kochi Himalaya Expedition, 1976. Journ. Hatt. Bot. Lab. 46:376-377. Iwatsuki, Z. (1979b). Mosses from Eastern Nepal collected by Himalayan expedition of Chiba University 1977. Journ. Hattori Bot. Lab. 46:295-297. Karczmarz, K. (1981). Bryophytes from Nepal. Lindbergia 2:126-130. Kattel, L.P. and Adhikari, M.K. (1992). Mosses of Nepal (List and References). Nat. Hist. Soc. of Nepal:11-18 Long, D. G. (1995). The Musci Indici: Its Authors, Types and Localities. Bot. J. Linnean Soc. 119:7-16. Mitten, W. (1858). Musci Indiae Orientalis, an Enumeration of the Mosses of the East Indies. Proc. Journ. Linn. Soc. of London: 65-75. Noguchi, A. (1966). Musci. In Hara, H. (Eds.). The Flora of Eastern Himalaya. Univ. Mus., Univ. of Tokyo Vol.1:555-559. Noguchi, A., Takaki, N. and Inoue, H. (1966). Bryophytes collected by Dr. K. Yoda in Eastern Nepal. Bull. Nat. Sci. Mus. 9(3):367-368. Noguchi, A. (1971). Musci. In Hara, H. (Eds.). The Flora of Eastern Himalaya. Univ. Mus., Univ. of Tokyo Vol. 2:244-245. Nyholm, E. (1974). Illustrated Moss Flora of Fennoscandia. The Bot. Soc. of London 4: 189-259. Pradhan, N., (2000a). Materials for a Checklist of Bryophytes of Nepal. The Nat. Hist. Mus., London: 27-33. Pradhan, N. (2000b). Bryophytes of Phulchowki, Central Nepal. Journ. Nat. Hist. Mus. 19: 64-65. Pradhan, N and Shrestha, K. 2002. Alpine Bryoflora of Nepal. Proc. Int. Seminar on MountainKathmandu:545-462. Taoda, H. (1972). Mapping of atmospheric pollution in Tokyo based upon epiphytic bryophytes. Jap. Journ. Ecol. 22:125-133. Watson, E.V. and Richards, P. (1968). British Mosses and Liverworts. Cambridge Univ. Press. Website MOBOT: http://www.mobot.org/MOBOT/Moss/China/china-b.shtml 26 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