Genus Schwetschkeopsis Broth. (Bryophyta): new addition to Central India

Abstract

The present work explicates three species of genus Schwetschkeopsis Broth. belonging to family Myriniaceae Schimp., which have been encountered for the first time in central India at Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve. Previously, this genus was known to be distributed at Himalayan and South Indian bryogeographical regions of India with four valid species, of which none were reported from central India. The genus is important as it is the only genus of family Myriniaceae known from India out of the total seven known worldwide and this study highlights the extension of its range of distribution in the country. During the present study three taxa viz. Schwetschkeopsis fabronia (Schwaegr) Broth., Schwetschkeopsis formosana Nog., Schwetschkeopsis elongata (Dixon and P. Varde) P. Varde were identified from the Biosphere Reserve. S. fabronia was encountered as terrestrial moss growing on dry exposed rocks while S. formosana and S. elongata were epiphytic. The presence of three taxa of the important genus Schwetschkeopsis at central India accentuates the importance of the central Indian moss flora as out of four species present in India three occur in this zone.