The Diversity and Distribution of Mosses in Gujarat: Current Status

Abstract

Gujarat harbors a large diversity of habitats ranging from deserts to moist deciduous forest to grasslands and coastal areas which provide a variety of microhabitats necessary for colonisation by bryophytes. An earlier study reported 44 species of mosses in Gujarat. 75% of the districts however remained unsurveyed. Hence, to understand the diversity of bryophytes in the state and its distribution, an intensive study was carried from November 2013 to February 2015. The present study reports the presence of 24 species of mosses which belong to 12 genera falling under 7 families. Pottiaceae, Bryaceae, Plagiothiaceae and Fissidentaceae are the dominant moss families of Gujarat while Bryum, Stereophyllum and Hyophila are the dominant moss genera with four species each. Gymnostomiella. vernicosa (Hook.) Fleish. and Hyophila. involuta (Hook.) Jaeg. were the most common and found in almost all the districts of Gujarat. The other common species included Hydrogonium consanguineum (Thw. et Mitt.), Barbula indica (Hook.) Spreng., Bryum coronatum Schwaegr, Bryum capillare L. ex Hedw. Brachyemenium turgidium Broth. ex Dix., Fissidens curvatoinvolutus Dixon. and Barbula indica (Hook.) Spreng . Physcomitrium eurystomum Sendth. and Hyophila spathulata (Harv.) Jaeg. are being reported for the first time from the state. Moss records are being reported for the first time for more than 20 districts of the state. Dangs district has the highest diversity followed by Junagadh, Panchmahal and Valsad districts