RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Transcription

1 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION TAXONOMIC ACCOUNT OF BRYOPSIDA Plants foliose, leaves are in many rows, costate or ecostate, laminar cells isodiamatic to linearly elongated, capsule vary in shape, usually open by operculum, seta short or long, peristomial teeth solid or transversly barred, jointed, single or double, usually articulated, calyptra cucullate or mitriform, in some cases companulate. Key to the orders 1a. Plants acrocorpic 2 1b. Plants pleurocorpic 7 2a. Leaves lamellose Polytrichales 2b. Leaves non-lamellose 3 3a. Leaves narrow, subulate, non-companulate, peristome dicranoid Dicranales 3b. Leaves broad, elongated, complanate, non-dicranoid 4 4a. Leaves distichous, complanate with a characteristic of sheathing lamina Fissidentales 4b. Leaves not distichous, without sheathing Lamina 5 5a. Leaves with semi-sheathing hyaline base Pottiales 5b. Leaves without semi-sheathing base 6 6a. Exostome (outer peristome layer) overlapping endostome (inner peristome) layer Funariales 6b. Exostome alternating with extreme teeth Eubryales 7a. Leaf cells highly papillose, sporophyte hidden within leaves Isobryales 7b. Leaf cells smooth, sporophyte exserted 8 8a. Leaves distichous, asymmetric, bordered, amphegastric Hookeriales 8b. Leaves not distichous, symmetric, neither bordered, nor-amphigastric Hypnobryales 71

2 Order: POLYTRICHALES Plants robust. Stem erect, rhizomatous, with a central strand (hydroids and leptoids). Leaves narrow, spiral, when dry imbricated, reducing water loss, lamellose and costate. Presence of hairy covering - Calystra - over the capsule makes these mosses known as the hair-cap mosses. Family: POLYTRICHACEAE Leaves lingulate, semisheathing, costa percurrent toothed on back at least at apex. Peristome teeth single rowed of 32-64, rarely 16 or absent, solid, short, triangular, attached to a shield like membrane covering capsule mouth. Genus: POGONATUM Plants greenish, erect, varying in size, often tall and showy, 2-10 cm or more high, stem innovating from creeping underground rhizome, occasionally branched above; leaves large, not bordered sharply toothed on top; costa broad. 1. Pogonatum aloides (Hedw.) forma neesii (C. Muelb). Gangulee Pogonatum aloides (Hedw.) P. Beauv., Prodr. Aetheogam., 84 (1805); Sedgw. in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 19: 939 (1910); Dixon in Recognised. Bot. Surv. India, 6(3): 80 (1914); Bruehl in Recognised. Bot. Surv. India, 13(1): 118 (1931); Foreau in J. Madras Univ., 3: 126 (1931) & J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 58: 46 (1961); Sundararagh. & Wadhwa in Bull. Bot. Surv. 72

3 India, 10: 347 (1968); R. S. Chopra, Tax. Indian Moss., 23 (1975), forma aloides: Gangulee, Moss. E. India, 1(1): 98 (1969); Polytrichum aloides Hedw., Sp. Musc. Frond., 96 (1801); Type: Europe (G). P. rubellum Menz. ex Brid. in J. Bot. (Schrader), 1800: 287 (1801); Great Britain (B). P. dicksonii Turner, Muscol. Hibern. Spic., 90 (1804); Type: Ireland, Derry, Brown s. n. (BM). Plants small, rigid, stem simple up to 2.5 cm height. Leaves scalelike; upper closely set, irregularly circinately roled towards stem when dry, lanceolate, up to 7 mm long and 1.2 mm wide at middle, apex sharply acute (forked) base hyaline, wider, slightly sheathing, margin sharply toothed upto apex, lower leaves smaller up to 3 mm long. Costa shortly excurrent, toothed at top back. Lamellae numerous, covering entire ventral surface, 4-5 cel1s high. Peristome teeth 32, homogenous, calyptra felty, covering the whole capsule (Plate 3). Habitat: Terricolous in decidous and degraded forests. Specimens examined: Periasamykoil Shola (1300 m), , RHTM 028, , RHTM 32; Solakkadu (1200 m), , RHTM 032; Semmedu (1220 m), , RHTM 046; Ellakkarai (1280 m), , RHTM 053. Order: DICRANALES Plants yellow-green. Leaves 3 or more ranked; leaf cells smooth. Peristome teeth dicranoid, rarely entire. 73

4 Key to Family: DICRANALES 1a. Leaf tip margin toothed; alar cells distinct, cells not differentiated into Chlorocysts and Leucocysts; peristome forked Dicranaceae 1b. Leaf margin entire, alar small or absent; peristome simple Leucobryaceae Family: DICRANACEAE Stem branched or not. Leaves lanceolate, Semi-sheathing at base, long acuminata, tubular apex, cells quadrate to rhomboid above, rectangular at base. Costa percurrent. Genus: Campylopus Plants robust, 1-5 cm long; leaves with long, narrow, flexuose points; costa broad occupying 1/3 or more of leaf base; cells at upper half smaller, rhomboidal or incrassate, alar cells conspicuous, coloured; seta auriculate when moist; capsule usually furrowed when mature and dry, peristome dicranate. Key to Species: Campylopus 1a. Leaves Lanceolate - subulate from a wider base, margin serrate at tip 2 1b. Leaves elongated with pointed tip, margin smooth to wavy Campylopus sp. 2a. Alar cells brownish, bulging; branching through proliferation from tips C. fexuosus 2b. Alar cells colourless; branching from base C. ericoides 2. Campylopus sps. Simple shoots about 5 cm high. Leaves erect to erectopatent; only one appressed to stem when dry; upto 4.5 mm long, elongated with pointed tip, gradually narrowed from a wider ( 0.55 mm, broad) base to a subula 74

5 with incurved margine, smooth to wavy; leaf tip not hyaline, toothed. Costa broad about 2/3 of leaf base. Alar prominent bulging. Fertile plants not seen (Plate 4). Habitat: Rupicolous in evergreen and semi-evergreen forests. Specimen Examined: Periashola (1400 m), , RHTM Campylopus flexuosus (Hedw.) Brid. Campylopus flexuosus (Hedw.) Brid. in Mant. Musc., 4: 71 (1819); Dicranum flexuosum Hedw. in Sp. Musc.: 145 (1801); Bryum flexuosum (Hedw.) L. ex. With. in Syst. Arr. Brit. Pl. ed. 4, 3: 817 (1801); B. immersum Dicks. in Pl. Crypt. Britt. Fasc. 4: 15 (1801) fid. Bird.; Weisia immerse (Dicks.) Brid. in Sp. Musc., 1: 124 (1806); Dicranum palustre La Pyl. in Brid. in Bryol. Univ., 1: 814 (1827) hom. illeg.; Thysanomitrion flexuosum (Hedw.) Arnott in Mem. Soc. Linn. Paris. 5: 262 (1827); Campylopus arduennae Lib. in Pl. Crypt. Arduenn. n. 106 (1831); C. tallulensis Sull. et Lesq. in Musci Bor. Am.: 17 (1865); C. paradoxus Wils. in Hardy in Berwickshire Nat. Hist. Cl., 1868: 48 (1868); Dicranum subleucogaster C. Muell. in Bull. Torr. Bot. Cl., 5: 49 (1874); Campylopus subleucogaster (C. Muell.) Jaeg. in Ber. S. Gall. Naturw. Ges : 381 (1880); C. subcinereus Stirt. in Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist., 8: 105 (1899); C. roellii Ren. et Card. in Bull. Soc. R. Bot. Belg., 38: 9 (1900); C. melaphanus Stirt. in Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist., 12: 110 (1903); C. rubiginosus Stirt. in Ann. Scot. Nat. Hist., 15: 1 (1906); C. crenulatus Stirt. in Trans. Bot. Soc. Edin., 26: 244 (1914). 75

6 Dioicous, shiny, green to olive green, up to 7 cm high, tomentose, dichotomously branched. Leaves erectopatent, flexuose when dry, serrated at tip, 10 mm long, up to 0.75 mm broad, lanceolate. Costa occupying the ½ of the leaf base, alar brown, highly bulging. Lamina cells at base long rectangular, m near costa, almost rhomboidal and incrassate at margin. Fertile plants not seen (Plate 5). Habitat: Rupicolous in evergreen forest Specimens examined: Semmedu (1220 m), , RHTM Campylopus ericoides (Criff) A. Jaeger Campylopus ericoides (Criff.) A. Jaeger in Ber. Senckenberg. Naturf. Ges : 424 (1872); Bruehl in Rec. Bot. Surv. India, 13(1): 23 (1931); Gangulee, Moss. E. India, 1(2): 296 (1971); Dicranum ericoides Griff. in Calcutta J. Nat. Hist., 2: 499 (1842); Mitt., Musc. Ind. Orient., 18 (1859); Syntypes: Nepal, Wallich s. n. (BM); India, Khasia, Myrung, Griffith s. n. (CAL, BM). Caespitose, comose, felt like plants, not branched, up to 2 cm height. Leaves long, up to 6 mm, erectopatent, somewhat flexuose when dry, lanceolate, leaf base wide. Cells widest at alar region, alar cells slightly inflated, colourless and distinct, rhizoids arise from leaf base, margin inflexed at upper two-thirds and distinctly serrulate in the upper one third. Costa light yellow brown, 150 m wide, covers 1 / 3 of the leaf, basal laminal cells yellow, rectangular, upper laminar cells smaller, rhomboidal, incrassate. Capsule not seen (Plate 6). 76

7 Habitat: Rupicolous in evergreen forest Specimens examined: Mathikettan Shola (1400 m), , RHTM 021; Semmedu (1220 m), , RHTM 062. Family: LEUCOBRYACEAE Plants whitish green. Stem without central strand. Leaves with a median row of chlorocysts between one or more layers of large leucocysts in cross section, costa broad. Key to Genus: Leucobryaceae 1a. Leaves dense limb of leaves not flat or plano-convex on upper surface, base of leaves ovate Leucobryum 1b. Leaves spreading, limb of leaves flat or plano-convex, base of leaves oblong Octoblepharum Genus: LEUCOBRYUM Plants whitish or pale green, in lax or dense cushions, brittle when dry; leaves long, spongy, mostly appressed when dry, straight or falcate when moist, lanceolate or subulate from an oblong base; costa flattened, very broad, occupying the whole width of the leaf except for a narrow margin of hyaline cells, margin entire; seta erect, elongate; peristome teeth 16, dicaranoid; operculum rostrate, covering the urn. Key to Species: 1a. Leaf cells upto 6 mm long. Laminar cells not pitted, elongated only in the border rows L. nilghiriense 1b. Leaf less then 4 mm. Long, basal lamina cells pitted L. mittenii 77

8 5. Leucobryum nilghiriense C. Muell. Leucobryum nilghiriense C. Muell. in Bot. Zeit., 32: 556 (1854) name corrected from neilgherrense (ortho. err.) by Mitt. in Musci. Ind. Or.: 26 (1859); Leucobryum holleanum Doz. & Molk. in Bryol. Jav., 1: 17 (1855); L. vulgare Wils. in Kew J. Bot., 9: 293 (1857) nom. nud.; L. triviale C. Muell. in Linnaea, 36: 30 (1869); L. mulleri Levier in Par. in Index Bryol. Suppl. 228 (1900) nom. nud.; L. sikkimense Card. in Ren. & Card. in Bull. Soc. R. Bot. Belg., 41: 29 (1905) nom. nud. in synon.; L. ferriei Card. in ibid.: 28 (1905). Plants are in tufts, whitish green, up to 2 cm high. Leaves narrow, rigid, erect spreading, up to 6 mm long, 3 mm wide, smooth on back. Lamina cells hyaline, 9-12 rows at base, gradually decreasing in width towards top. Sporophyte terminal, cylindrical, erect, seta long, reddish brown, peristome teeth small and short, calyptra long (Plate 7). Habitat: Corticolous in evergreen, semi-evergreen, deciduous and degraded forests. Specimens examined: Periashola (1400 m), , RHTM 025; Settur (1200 m), , RHTM 049; Solakkadu (1200 m), , RHTM 117, , RHTM Leucobryum mittenii Besch. Leucobryum mittenii Besch. in. J. de Bot., 12: 287 (1898); Schistomitrium gardnorianum Mitt, P. P. (Khasia plant only) in Musc. Ind. Or., 26 (1859). 78

9 Caespitose, unbranched plants, up to 1.5 cm long. Densely covered with erect to erectopatent leaves, up to 3.5 mm long, ovate, partly sheathing, concave, wide base which is more than 1 / 3 of the leaf length; upper part lanceolate, concave, often becoming tubular by the inflexed margins, apex acute. Costa wide, with one layer of chlorocysts and two layers of leucocysts, a hyaline lamina, have thin walled with elongated and irregular sized cells. Sporophyte not seen (Plate 8). Habitat: Rupicolous and corticolous in evergreen forest. Specimens examined: Kuzhivalavu (1450), , RHTM 084; Solakkadu (1200 m), , RHTM 118. Genus: OCTOBLEPHARUM Plants tufted, glossy, whitish-green, tinged with brown; leaves crowded, rigid, often fragile, lingulate, form an oblong or narrowly obovate, concave base, limb of leaves flat or plano-convex at upper half; costa broad and thick, occupying half of the leaf base and filling the upper part; central and basal laminal cells irregularly rectangular; seta erect, less than 1 cm long; capsule erect, ovoid, symmetrical; pristome 8 teethed, undivided, broadly lanceolate, peristomial teeth 16 in 8 pairs; calyptra cucullate. 7. Octoblepharum albidium Hedw. Octoblepharum albidium Hedw. in Sp. Musc.: 50 (1801); Bryum albidum L. Sp. Pl.: 1583 (1753) nomenclature. inval.; B. albidum (Hedw.) P. Beauv. in Prodr.: 45 (1805); Octoblepharum minus Hamp. in Vid. Medd. 79

10 Naturh. For. Kjobenh. Ser. 4, 1: 83 (1879); O. cuspidatum C. Muell. in Generation. Musc. Fr.: 88 (1900); O. martinicense Mitt. in Card. in Mem. Soc. Sc. Nat. Cherbourg, 32: 44 (1901) nom. nud.; O. ekmanii Ther. in Mem. Soc. Cubana Hist. Nat., 13: 220 (1939). Autoicous, greenish white plant, up to 1 cm high, as small tufts on tree trunks, short and simple stem; 5 mm high, not branched. Leaves crowded, forming a rosette at apex, erect-spreading, rigid, not changed when dry, narrowed, tubular mm, acute tip, margin entire, wide sheathing at base. Costa wide, smooth on back. Basal cells hyaline, laminar cells chlorophyllous. Sporophyte not seen (Plate 9). Habitat: Lignicolous and corticolous in evergreen forests. Specimens examined: Semmedu (1220 m), , RHTM 064, , RHTM 134; Periasamykoil Shola (1300 m), , RHTM 131. Order: FISSIDENTALES Plants small. Leaves distichous, complanate with sheathing or vaginant smaller lamina. Family: FISSIDENTACEAE Plants 1-5 mm high, rarely higher. Perichaetial leaves similar to leaves, smaller or longer. 80

11 Genus: Fissidens Plants yellowish-green, small to medium sized, simple or dimorphic, vertically placed; leaves distichous, differentiated into vaginant laminae (sheath like part), a dorsal (behind the costa) and a ventral lamina (above the vaginant lamina); capsule terminal or lateral, erect to inclined, peristome single; spores spherical, smooth to lightly papillose. 8. Fissidens sylvaticus Griff. Fissidens sylvaticus Griff. in Calcutta J. Nat. Hist. 2: 507 (1842); Bruehl. in Rec. Bot. Surv. India, 13(1): 18 (1931); Foreau in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 58: 16 (1961); Wadhwa in M. V. M. Patrika, 4: 91 (1969); Gangulee, Moss. E. India, 1(2): 535 (1971); Mohamed & al. in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 83: 689 (1986); Type: India, Mumbre, Griffith s. n. (CAL). F. circinalis Mitt., Musc. Ind. Orient., 138 (1859); Bruehl in Rec. Bot. Surv. India, 13(1): 18 (1931); Type: India, Mount. supra Avam (NY); F. angustus Thwaites & Mitt. in J. Linn. Soc. Bot., 13: 324 (1873); Bruehl in Rec. Bot. Surv. India, 13(1): 18 (1931); Type: Ceylon, Thwaites s. n. (BM); F. terminiflorus Thwaites & Mitt. in J. Linn. Soc. Bot., 13: 322 (1873); Type: Ceylon, Thwaites s. n. (BM); F. arbogastii Renauld & Cardot in Rev. Gen. Bot., 9: 289 (1891); Type: Madagascar (PC); F. coriaceifolius Mull. Hal. ex. Dusen in Kongl. Vetensk. Acad. Handl., 28: 6 (1895); Type: Africa, Cameroon, ca 400 m, Jan. 1892, Dusen s. n. (S). F. subobscurus Paris, Index Bryol., 487 (1896); Bruehl in Rec. Bot. Surv. India, 13(1): 18 (1931); Type: Ceylon (REN, B, BH, JE); F. lutescens Broth. in Rec. Bot. Surv. 81

12 India, 1(12): 315 (1899); Bruehl in Rec. Bot. Surv. India, 13(1): 18 (1931); Foreau in J. Madras Univ., 2: 243 (1930); J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 61: 224 (1964); Wadhwa in M. V. M. Patrika, 4: 91 (1969); Type: India (Karnataka), Coorg, near Verajpet, Walker 159 (US); F. elimbatus Broth. in Rec. Bot. Surv. India, 1(12): 316 (1899); Bruehl in Rec. Bot. Surv. India, 13(1): 17 (1931); Type: India (Karnataka), Coorg, near Verajpet, Walker 151 (US); F. incurvescens Broth. in K. Schum. & Lauterb., Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. Sudsee, 81 (1900); Type: Kaiser, Wilhelms-Land, Butaueng, Dec. 1884, Kaernbach s. n. (B, G, BM, PC), F. walker Broth. var. elimbatus (Broth.) Dixon in J. Indian Bot., 2: 177 (1921); Foreau in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 58: 16 (1961); Wadhwa in M. V. M. Patrika, 4: 91 (1969); F. angustilusculus Dixon & P. de la Varde in Arch. Bot. Bull. Mens. 1: 163 (1927); Bruehl in Rec. Bot. Surv. India, 13(1): 19 (1931); Foreau in J. Madras Univ., 2: 242 (1930); J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 58: 15 (1961); Wadhwa in M. V. M. Patrika, 4: 90 (1969); Type: India (Tamil Nadu), Palni Hills, Parappar Torrent, near Villupatti paddy fields, Foreau 511 (RHT). Plants small, up to 5 mm high. Leaves curled and crumpted when dry, elongated oblong - lingulate, apiculate from a wide tip; up to 1.5 mm long and 0.4 mm broad, dorsal lamina narrowed down to a slightly decurrent base sheathing lamini usually unequal (open), terminating a little below margin level, apical blade symmetrical, nerve orange at base, lighter above. Costa excurrent - shortly mucronate, border row of cells corrugated by conical protuberances at the leaf apex, smoothly crenulate below. Leaf 82

13 cells rounded hexagonal, up to 8 m broad, elongated rectangular ( 16 m long) at the base of the sheathing lamini at nerve base (Plate 10). Habitat: Rupicolous in deciduous forests and plantations. Specimens examined: Periasamykoil Shola (1300 m), , RHTM 133. Order: POTTIALES Plants variable in size, tufted or mat forming, stem erect, rarely procumbent. Leaves comose or spirall, curled or circinately curled when dry, linear lanceolate to spathulate, sheathing to semi-sheathing at base, alar region undifferentiated. Family: POTTIACEAE Stem erect, calyptra cucullate, capsule erect, cylindric to ovate-- cylindric. Operculum conic, rostrate. Peristome teeth absent or haplolepidious, 16, spirally twisted, split into 32 filiform papillate segments with basal membrane. Key to Genus: Pottiaceae 1a. Leaves spathulate or lingulate, broad at base, apiculate Hyophila 1b. Leaves linear - Lanceolate, acuminata 2 2a. Leaf margin flat, pegged even when dry, leaves brittle Oxystegeus 2b. Leaf margin inrolved at base, not pegged, leaves not brittle Leptodontium Genus: Hyophila Plants dioicous, tufted or forming mats. Stem branched or not. Leaves uniform or comose, curled or circinately curled with inrolled margin 83

14 when dry, flat when wet. Perichaetial leaves smaller, sometimes undifferentiated. Sporophytes apical. Capsules cylindric, Peristome absent. Key to Species: Hyophila 1a. Leaf margin smooth upto apex, costa short excurrent with long arista H. comosa 1b. Leaf margin serrated near the apex, costa strong with short arista H. involuta 9. Hyophila comosa Dix. et Yarde. Hyophila comosa Dixon & P. de la Varde in Arch. Bot. Bull. Mens. 1: 166 (1927); Bruehl in Rec. Bot. Surv. India, 13(1): 38 (1931); Foreau in J. Madras Univ., 2: 246 (1930) and J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 58: 22 (1961); Wadhwa in M. V. M. Patrika, 6: 73 (1971); Gangulee, Moss. E. India, 1(3): 687 (1972); Type: India, Beddome 706 ex Herb. Mitteni (NY). Small, up to 1.2 cm high, forming a thick mat on the substratum, erect, green, dichotomously branched. Leaves thick, sub-erect upto 3.2 mm long, basal leaves distant and brown, inrolled when dry, spathulate from a narrower base, acute, margin smooth. Costa strong, short excurrent with small arista, 65 m wide. Upper laminar cells chlorophyllous, multipapillate, rounded and hexagonal, cells at base hyaline, longitudinal rectangular, length up to 20 m (Plate 11). Habitat: Terri and rupicolous in evergreen forests and plantations. Specimens examined: Shoolavanthi Shola (1020 m), , RHTM 092; Solakkadu (1200 m), , RHTM

15 10. Hyophila involuta (Hook.) Jaeg. Hyophila involuta (Hook.) Jaeg. in Ber. S. Gall. Naturw. Ges : 356 (1873); Gymnostomum involutum Hook. in Musc. Exot., 2: 154 (1819); Gymnostomum tortula Schwaegr. in Sp. Musc. Suppl. 2: 78, 175 (1826); G. cylindricum Hook. in Icon. Pl. Rar., 1: 17 (1836); Barbula spathulata Doz. & Molk. in Ann. Sci. Nat. Bot. ser. 3, 2: 300 (1844); Hyophila hookeri Hamp. in Bot. Zeit., 4: 267 (1846) nom. illeg.; H. harveyana Hamp. in ibid same page nom. illeg.; H. tortula (Schwaegr.) Hamp. in ibid same page; Pottia involuta (Hook.) C. Muell. in Syn., 1: 560 (1849); P. cylindrica (Hook.) C. Muell. in Syn., 1: 562 (1849); Desmatodon involutus (Hook.) Mitt. in Musci Ind. Or.: 39 (1959); Pottia zollingeri C. Muell. in Bot. Zeit., 14: 419 (1856); P. circinnata C. Muell. in Linn., 36: 38 (1869); P. riparia Aust. in Musci Appal., n. 112 (1870); Trichostomum bescherelli Schimp. in Besch. in Mem. Soc. Sc. Nat. Cherbourg, 16: 477 (1872); Hyophila cylindrica (Hook.) Jaeg. in Ber. S. Gall. Naturw. Ges : 356 (1873); H. circinnata (C. Muell.) Jaeg. in Ber. S. Gall. Naturw. Ges : 357 (1873); H. bescherelli (Schimp.) C. Muell. in Flora, 58: 538 (1875); Trichostomum warnstorfii Limpr. in Laubm. Deutschl., 1: 587 (1888) nom. illeg.; Leptodontium riparium (Aust.) E. G. Brit. in Bull. Torr. Bot. Club, 19: 275 (1892); L. canadense Kindb. in Macoun. in Cat. Canad. Pl., 6: 45 (1892); Hyophila micholitzii Broth. in Oefv. Finsk. Vet. Soc. Foerh., 35: 39 (1893); Didymodon riparias (Aust.) Kindb. in Eur. N. Am. Bryin., 2: 280 (1897); Hyophila stenocarpa Ren. et Card. in Bull. Soc. R. 85

16 Bot. Belg., 38(1): 10 (1900); H. moutieri Par. et Broth in Rev. Bryol., 28: 38 (1901); H. commutata Broth. in Nat. Pfl., 1(3): 403 (1902); H. riparia (Aust.) Fleisch. in Britt. in Bryologist, 7: 69 (1904); H. warnstorfii (Limpr.) Fleisch. in Musci Fl. Buitenz., 1: 330 (1904); H. dozy-molkenboeri Fleisch. in ibid p. 328; H. tsunodae Broth. ex Yas. in Bot. Mag. Tokyo, 29: 151 (1915); H. attenuata Broth. in Symb. Sin. 4: 37 (1929); H. subcylindrica Broth. in Bruehl. in Rec. Bot. Surv. Ind., 13(1): 126 (1931) nom. nud.; H. sinensi Dix. in Yang: Sc. Rep. Nat. Tsing Hua Univ. B. Biol., 2: 117 (1936) nom. nud. Dioicous, gregarious, yellowish green, erect, upto 1.5 cm high, branched from the base. Leaves distant at the base, brownish, comal tuft at the tip, tongue shaped, apex sub-obtuse. Costa strong, single, smooth margin, slightly serrated near the apex, percurrent, extended beyond apex and form arista, 2 m long, 0.5 mm wide. Laminar cells rectangular, 8-10 m 5-6 m, cells near midrib large and towards margin short. Capsule terminal, seta erect; long, brownish, peristome absent (Plate 12). Habitat: Terricolous, rupicolous in semi-evergreen, degraded forest and plantations. Specimens examined: Kuzhivalavu (1450), , RHTM 010; Semmedu (1220 m), , RHTM 012; Sottupparai (1250 m), , RHTM 073; , RHTM 079, RHTM 080; , RHTM 081; Arappuleeswarar, Kuttar (850 m), RHTM

17 Genus: OXYSTEGUS Plants yellowish-green, stem prostrate to erect, branched or not with indistinct or no central strand; leaves brittle, linear-lanceolate, apiculate, margin flat, wavy, not inrolled, flat even when dry, crenulate by papillae; lamina cells thin walled, coarse, rounded to quadrate, papillate above, smooth at base, rectangular, hyaline; capsule erect, ovoid-cylindric, peristome teeth usually undivided or irregularly split, deeply inserted, without basal membrane. 11. Oxystegus cylindricus (Bruch ex Brid.) Hilp. Oxystegus cylindricus (Bruch ex Brid.) Hilp., Beih. Bot. Centralbl., 50: 620 (1933); Gangulee, Moss. E. India, 1(3): 655 (1972); Weisia cylindrical Bruch ex Brid., Bryol. Univ., 1: 806 (1827); Weisia tenuirostris Hook. & Tayl., Musc. Brit. ed. 2: 83. Suppl. 3 (1827); Didymodon tenuirostris (Hook. & Tayl.) Wils., Hook. J. Bot., 3: 378 (1841); Barbula longifolia Griff., Calcutta J. Nat. Hist., 2: 490 (1842); Didymodon longifolius Griff., Ibid., 2: 510 (1842); D. cylindricus (Brid.) Bruch, Schimp. & W. Guembel, Bryol. Eur. 2: 139 (1846); D. calyptratus Tayl., Lond. J. Bot., 7: 188 (1848); Trichostomum cylindricum (Bruch ex Brid.) C. Muell., Synop. Musc. Frond. 1: 586 (1849); Tortula cylindrica (Bruch ex Brid.) Mitt., Musc. Ind. Orient. 28 (1859); T. longifolia (Griff.) Mitt., ibid. (1859); Trichostomum tenuirostre (Hook. & Tayl.) Lindb., Oefv. K. Vet. Ak. Foerh., 21: 225 (1864); Mollia tenuirostris (Hook. & Tayl.) Lindb., Musc. Scand., 21 (1879); Barbula leptotortuosa C. Muell. in N. Giorn., Bot. Ital., 5: 179 (1898); B. leptotortella 87

18 C. Muell., Hedwigia, 38: 110 (1899); Trichostomum leptotortuosum (C. Muell.) Broth., Nat. Pflanzenfam., 1(3): 394 (1902); T. longifolium (Griff.) Broth., Ibid., 1(3): 394 (1902); Tortella cylindrical (Bruch ex Brid.) Loeske, Stud. Morph. Syst. Laubm., 97 (1910); Oxystegus longifolius (Griff.) Hilp. in Beih., Bot. Centralb., 50(2): 667 (1933); O. leptotortella (C. Muell.) Hilp., ibid., O. leptotortuosum (C. Muell.) Hilp. ibid. Yellowish green plants, in loose tuffs. Stem dark, slender, flexuose upto 3 cm long. Leaves fragile in older plarts, comparatively lax, patent to spreading, flexuose, curled when dry, lanceolate-lingulate, longer in the upper region, length up to 5 mm and wide up to 0.3 mm, sheathing base, margin pegged, somewhat crenulate with papillae above, acute apex costa strong. Basal cells wide and rectangular, hyaline, thin wal1ed up to m, shorter towards margin upper lamina cells rounded, quadrate, diameter of 15 m, incrassate, multipapillate. Seta apical, erect, slightly twisted when dry, capsule cylindrical, peristome teeth deep brown; up to 300 m high (Plate 13). Habitat: Rupicolous in evergreen forests. Specimens examined: Shoolavanthi Shola (1020 m), , RHTM 107, RHTM 108. Genus: LEPTODONTIUM Dioicous (sometimes pseudoautoicous) study to slender plants in yellow to brown tuffs. Stem without central strand, tomentose, scaly. 88

19 Leaves flexuose or curled when dry, usually squarrose, carinate, elliptical or oval margin reflexed at base, serulate above. Leaf base cells elongated rectangular, upper ones small, papillose on both sides, incrassate. Perichaetical leaves sheathing, erect, capsule cylindrical, sometimes curved. Operculum conic - rostrate. 12. Leptodontium viticulosoides (P. de Beauv.) Wijk & Marg. Leptodontium viticulosoides (P. de Beauv.) Wijk & Marg., Taxon. 9: 51 (1960), Neckera viticulosoides P. de Beauv., Prodr. Aethéogam. 78. (1805), Leptodontium squarrosum (Hook.) Hampe in Lindb., Öfvers. Förh. Kongl. Svenska Vetensk.-Akad. 21: 227 (1864), Didymodon squarrosus Hook., Musci Exot. 2: 150 f. 1 8 (1819), Leptodontium squarrosum var. abbreviatum (Dix.) P.-C. Chen, Hedwigia 80: 320 (1941), Leptodontium viticulosoides var. abbreviatum (Dix.) Wijk & Marg., Taxon 11: 221 (1962), Leptodontium abbreviatum Dix., Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh 19: 284, f. 4 (1938), Leptodontium subdenticulatum (C. Müll.) Paris, Ind. Bryol. 732 (1894), Leptodontium squarrosum var. subdenticulatum (C. Müll.) P.-C. Chen, Hedwigia 80: 320 (1941), Trichostomum subdenticulatum C. Müll., Syn. Musc. Frond. 2: 626 (1851), Leptodontium taiwanense Nog., J. Jap. Bot. 20: 144 (1944), syn. nov. Type. China: Taiwan, Mt. Ari-Tataka, (8 Aug. 1932), H. Ozaki s.n. (holotype NICH). Dioicous, yellow-green, robust plant in loose tufts, 4 cm high. Leaves carinate, 3.5 mm long 1 m wide at base, ovate-lanceolate, lower part sheathing, margin narrowly inrolled at base, serrulate at top. Costa light 89

20 brown. Upper laminar cells rounded-quadrate, sometimes slightly elongated, highly multipapillose and incrassate. Seta terminal, capsule brown, erect, cylindrical from an ovoid base, 3.3 mm long, operculum conic-rostate, 1.5 mm high, peristome teeth reddish brown (Plate 14). Habitat: Corticolous in evergreen forests Specimens examined: Solakkadu (1200 m), , RHTM 071. Order: FUNARIALES Plants terricolous, acrocarpous. Stem branched or not, usually without central strand. Leaves usually in terminal rosettes, broad, ovate or spathulate, cells thin-walled, smooth. Capsules pyriform to cylindric. Peristome teeth if present, diplolepideous or rudimentary. Family: FUNARIACEAE Plants small to medium-sized, terricolous, stem branched or not. Leaves in terminal rosettes, caespitose. Leaf cells rhomboid to rectangular, smooth. Capsule globose, ovoid, erect, smooth or sulcate, cleistocarpic. Peristome teeth if present epicranoid, diplolepideous or rudimentary. Key to Genus: Funariaceae 1a. Peristome well developed, operculam convex, capsule asymmetrical, capsule, acullate Funaria 1b. Peristome absent, operculam beaked, calyptra not cuculate Physcomitrium 90

21 Genus: FUNARIA Plants yellowish, gregarious; leaves more or less erect to convolute, forming a bud like structure of various shapes, acuminate; costa ending below the apex to shortly excurrent; cells elongate, rectangular to rhomboidal, sometimes elongate towards the margin forming a narrow border; seta short or long, erect; capsule asymmetric, erect to pendulous, peristome deeply inserted, double, single or absent, reddish to brownish, mostly oblique, twisted towards right, inner peristome as long as outer or shorter, calyptra persistent, long beaked, smooth with entire margin; spores moderately large. 13. Funaria hygrometrica Hedw. Funaria hygrometrica Hedw. in Sp. Musc.: 172 (1801); Minium hygrometricum (Hedw.) With. in Syst. Arr. Br. Pl. ed. 4, 3: 787 (1801); Funaria angustifolia Brid. in Sp. Musc., 3: 71 (1817); F. androgyna Brid. in Bryol. Univ., 2: 58 (1827); F. ramificans Brid. in ibid.: 738 (1827); F. campylopus Brid. in ibid.: 739 (1827); F. gracilescens Schimp. ex C. Muell. in Bot. Zeit., 16: 154 (1858); F. marginata Kindb in Bih. K. Svensk. Vet. Ak. Handl., 7: 79 (1883); F. megapoda C. Muell. in Bull. Herb. Boiss., 5: 175 (1897); F. globicarpa C. Muell. in Nuov. Giorn. Bot. Ital. n. ser., 5: 161 (1898); F. lonchopelma C. Muell. in hedwigia, 38: 61 (1899). Loosely tufted, green, about 1.5 cm high. Lower leaves smaller sparsely arranged and with poorly developed costa, upper leaves large upto 0.75 mm long, forming rosette on top, concave, oblong-ovate, erect 91

22 spreading, shrunk when dry, margin entire, apex acute. Costa strong, percurrent. Lamina cells thin walled, subhexagonal, more elongated at base, smaller at apex; marginal row narrow. Seta apical, erect, capsule horizontal to pendulous, asymmetrical with the narrower mouth oblique, 1 mm long with the apophysis, yellow with deep red mouth, sulcate when dry, operculum convex, calypa cucullate, peristome teeth typical epicranoid, outer teeth brown, spirally arranged (Plate 15). Habitat: Rupicolous in semi-evergreen, deciduous and scrub forests. Specimens examined: Kuzhivalavu (1450), , RHTM 006; Solakkadu (1200 m), , RHTM 008; Pongaya Shola (1300 m), , RHTM 146. Genus: Physcomitrium Erect, small to medium, yellow-green to pale green, usually terrestrial, tufted to gregarious plants. Stems usually simple, with central strand, rhizoids at base only. Leaves erect-spreading, rosette, concave, ovate or spathulate (sometimes narrow), margin flat, or dentate above, indistinctly or distinctly bordered by narrow, elongated usually acuminate. Costa clear, ending below tip to excurrent. Lamina cells, perchymatous, long or short rectangular, sometimes rhomboid. Capsule immersed to exserted on a long seta. Capsule erect, symmetrical, turbinate or pyriform. Peristom absent. Annulus present. Operculum apiculate or rostellate with cells arranged straight lines from centre to circumference. Calyptra usually erect, lobed at base cucullate, symmetrical, fugacious. 92

23 14. Physcomitrium sps. Plants small, slender, densely gregarious, bright green. Stem short, 4.5 mm, long, erect, soft, branched. Leaves lax, upper ones longer, narrow, erectopatent, concave, lanceloate from ob-ovate base, acuminate, margin serrate-dentate throughout, lower leaves mm with nerve vanishing well below apex. Costa ending below tip to excurrent. Leaf cells, thin walled and rectangular at base, rhomboidal at top. Capsule erect, symmetrical, turbinate to pyriform, peristome absent Operculum apicullate, celyptra erect, not cucullate (Plate 16). Habitat: Rupicolous in evergreen forests Specimen Examined: Solakkadu (1200 m), , RHTM 101, RHTM 103. Order: EUBRYALES Plants acrocarpic medium to robust, ceaspitose, stem branched or not, erect. Leaves variable. Peristome teeth bryoid type (metacranoid), endostome with basal membrane, keeled, slit or perforate with distinct or rudimentary cilia, dorsal surface of exostome striolate. Key to Family: Eubryales 1a. Leaves ovate; orbicular or lanceolate; margin entire or faintly to distinctly toothed at apical margin; Sporophyte not lateral from plant base Bryaceae 1b. Leaf elongage; subulate; margin distinctly spinose; sporophyte lateral from plant base Rhizogoniaceae 93

24 Family: BRYACEAE Plants variable in size, caespitose or tufted, stem erect, radiculose, branched. Leaves in terminal rosettes, lax below, lanceolate, cells rhomboid or linear above, rectangular to quadrate below. Capsules nodding to pendulous, sometimes erect, fusiform or pyriform to clavate, apophysis distinct. Peristome teeth 2-rowed. Operculum convex, mamillate or apiculate, rarely rostrate. Calyptra narrow, cucullate, smooth caducous. Genus: BRYUM Plants small to robust, densely tufted, stem tomentose, mostly with subapical innovations, simple or branched rhizoids numerous, brown, tubers present in some; leaves large, bordered or non-bordered, ovate or ovate- lanceolate, acuminata, lower leaves smaller, distant, upper larger; cells sub-rectangular at base, narrow-rhomboidal above but not linear, smooth, seta long, erect, mostly red, arcuate at tip; capsule clavate, pyriform, with a distinct neck, sometimes broadly ovate, apophysis tapering, peristome usually double; spores rounded, m diagonally. Key to Species: Bryum 1a. Plants glossy, silvery green, leaves closely imbricate, costa faint, ending far below apex B. argenteum 1b. Plants yellowish green, brown or reddish, leaves, spreading, costa strong, percurrent or excurrent 2 2a. Leaves spirally twisted when dry B. capillare 2b. Leaves not spirally twisted when dry 3 94

25 3a. Plants small, upto 2 cm high B. medianum 3b. Plants large, upto 12 cm high B. wightii 15. Bryum argenteum Hedw. Bryum argenteum Hedw., sp. Musc., 181 (1801); Broth., Rec. Bot. Surv. India, 1(12): 320 (1899); P. Bruehl, Rec. Bot. Surv. India, 13(1): 52 (1931); Dixon, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 39: 779 (1937); Foreau, J. Madras Univ. Sect. B., 2: 249 (1930) & J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 58: 25 (1961); Argyrobryum argenteum (Hedw.) Kindb., Bih. Kong. Svensk. Vet. Akad. Handlinger, 7(9): 78 (1883); Brachymenium argenteoides Dixon, Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinburgh, 19: 289 (1938), B. brachyphyllum Taylor in Mitt., J. Linn. Soc. Bot., 12: 302 (1869); B. candicans Taylor in Mitt., J. Linn. Soc. Bot., 12: 303 (1869); B. corrugatum Hampe, Bot. Zeitung (Berlin), 27: 868 (1869); B. leucurum C. Muell., Linnaea, 42: 479 (1879); B. stenopyxis C. Muell., Linnaea, 42: 480 (1879); B. niveum Herzog, Biblioth. Bot., 88: 13 (1920). Plants small, densely tufted. Stems erect, very short, glossy, silvery white, 2 cm in high. Leaves uniformly and densely arranged along the stem, erectopatent, broadly ovate, concave, acuminata, 1.2 mm length and 0.5 mm wide, flat margin. Costa percurrent, ending in a hyaline arista. Leaf cells clearly differentiated into hyaline cells in the upper ⅓ of the leaf and chlorophyllous cells below, upper hyaline cells narrowly rhomboidal, colourless with firm wall and hexagonal in shape (Plate 17). Habitat: Terri and Rupicolous in evergreen forests and plantations. 95

26 Specimens examined: Kuzhivalavu (1450), , RHTM 035, Pongaya Shola (1300 m), , RHTM Bryum capillare L. ex Hedw. Bryum capillare L. ex Hedw. in sp. Musc.; 182 (1801); Bryum squalidum Brid. in Bryol. Musc. Recognised., 2(3): 52 (1803); B. ferchelii Funck ex Brid. in Bryol. Univ., 1: 847 (1827) as var.; B. elegans Nees in Brid. in ibid.: 849 (1827) as var.; B. torquescens De Not. in Syll. n. 163 (1838) as var.; B. domingense C. Muell. in Linnaea, 17: 594 (1843) hom. illeg.; B. philippianum C. Muell. in Linnaea, 18: 701 (1845) fid. Ochi; B. creberrimum Tayl. in Lond. J. Bot., 5: 54 (1846) fid. Ochi; B. capillare var. capense C. Muell. in Syn., 1: 281 (1848); B. pyrothecium C. Muell. & Hamp. in Linnaea, 26: 495 (1855), B. cuspidatum Wils. in Kew. J. Bot., 9: 364 (1857) hom. illeg.; B. thomsonii Mitt. in Musci. Ind. or: 75 (1859) syn. nov.; B. oreganum Suell. in U.S. Expl. Experiment. Wilkes Musci: 10 (1859); B. baueri Hamp. in Linnaea, 30: 457 (1860); B. teneriffae Hamp. in C. Muell. in Bot. Zeit., 20: 12 (1862) fid. Ochi; B. triste De Not. in Cronac. Briol. Ital., 1: 26 (1866); B. chilense Reichd. in Reis. Oest. Freg. Novara Bot., 1: 75 (1870) fid. Ochi; Rhodobryum albolimbatum Hamp. & C. Muell. in Linnaea, 36: 517 (1870) fid. Ochi; Bryum pohliaeforme Schimp. in Besch. in Mem. Soc. Sc. Nat. Cherbourg. 16: 198 (1872) hom. illeg.; B. botterii Mohr. ex. C. Muell. in Linnaea, 38: 622 (1874); B. albo-limbatum (Hamp. & C. Muell.) Jaeg. in Ber. S. Gall. Naturw. Ges., : 191 (1875); B. rufonitens Hamp. in Vid. Medd. Naurh. For. Kjobenh. Ser. 3, 9-10: 261 (1878) fid. 96

27 Ochi; B. nanocoma C. Muell. in Linnaea, 43: 365 (1882); B. sawyeri Ren. & Card. in Rev. Bryol., 15: 71 (1888); B. pusillum Broth. in Oefv. Finsk. Vet. Soc. Foerh., 33: 99 (1890) hom. illeg., fid. Ochi; B. whiteleggei Broth. in Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, 7: 277 (1892) nom. nud., fid. Ochi; B. capillare ssp. heteroneuron C. Muell. & Kindb. in Macoun: Cat. Canad. Pl., 6: 130 (1892); B. immarginatum Broth. in Oefv. Finsk. Vet. Soc. Foerh., 35: 50 (1893) fid. Ochi; B. heteroneuron (C. Muell. & kindb.) Ren. & Card. in Rev. Bryol., 20: 3 (1893) nom. illeg.; B. floridanum Ren. & Card. in ibid.: 4 (1893).; B. sanguilentum Ren. & Card in ibid.: 31 (1893); B. syntrichiaefolium C. Muell. in Broth. in Bot. Jahrb., 20: 88 (1894) nom. nud.; B. speirophyllum Kindb. in Bull. Soc. Bot. Ital. 1895: 17 (1895); B. squarrosum Kindb. in Roell in Hedwigia, 35: 66 (1896) hom. illeg.; B. bernouillii C. Muell. in Herb. Boiss., 5: 183 (1897); B. vulcanicola C. Muell. in ibid.: 184 (1897); B. ionianum var. floridanum (Ren. & Card.) Kindb. in Eur. N. Am. Bryin., 2: 359 (1897); B. gemmascens Kindb. in ibid.: 360 (1897); B. streptophyllum Kindb. in ibid.: 359 (1897); B. tomentosum Kindb. in ibid.: 361 (1897) hom. illeg.; B. trichophorum Kindb. in ibid.: 359 (1897); B. plebejum C. Muell. in Hedwigia 37: 94 (1898) fid. Ochi; B. synoicum C. Muell. in ibid.: 96 (1898) fid. Ochi; B. erythropyxis C. Muell. in ibid.: 101 (1898) fid. Ochi; B. nagasakense Broth. in Hedwigia 38: 219 (1899) as var., B. lonchopyxis Broth. in ibid.: 72 (1899); B. microsporum Broth. in Oefv. Finsk. Vet. Foerh., 42: 100 (1899) hom. illeg.; B. flaccidifolium C. Muell. in Generation. Musc. Fr.: 238 (1900) nom. nud., fid. Ochi; B. obconicum var. 97

28 aristatum Roth in Eur. Laubm., 2: 152 (1904); B. pycnoloma C. Muell. in Par. in Ind. Bryol. ed. 2, 1: 250 (1904) nom. nud., B. tomentosulum Par. in ibid.: 264 (1904); B. subrepandocarpum Card. & Ther. in Bot. Gaz., 37: 374 (1904); B. baileyi Holz. in Bryologist, 8: 54 (1905) hom. illeg.; B. fosteri Holz. in ibid.: 80 (1905); B. moravicum Podp. in Vestn. Klub. Prirod. Prost., 8: 41 (1906); B. courtoisii Broth. & Par. in Rev. Bryol., 35: 41 (1908) as var.; B. tosanum Card. in Bull. Soc. Bot. Geneve ser. 2, 1: 128 (1909); B. rubrolimbatum Broth. in Philipp. J. Sci., 5C: 147 (1910) as var.; B. validicostatum Card. & Dix. in J. Bot., 49: 4 (1919) fid. Ochi; B. leptothecioides Besch. et Watts in Proc. Linn. Soc. N. S. Wales, 40: 374 (1915) fid. Ochi; B. yuennanense Broth. in Sitz. Ak. Wiss. Wien. Math. Nat. KI., 133: 570 (1924); B. rhomboidale Ther. in Rev. Bryol. n. ser., 3: 37 (1930) fid. Ochi; B. vino-viride Bartr. in Bis. Mus. Bull., 101: 116 (1933) fid. Ochi; B. spininervium Dix. in Not. R. Bot. Gard. Edin., 19: 291 (1938) fid. Ochi; B. capense (C. Muell.) Podp. in Act. Ac. Sc. Nat. Morav., 22: 439 (1950); B. littorale Hamp. in Podp. nom. nud, in synon. in ibid.: 389 (1950); B. capillare var. spininervium (Dix.) Podp. in ibid.: 461 (1950) fid. Ochi; B. donianum var. spuarrosum Podp. in ibid.: 23: 26 (1951). Small plant, green, forming cushion, with large capsule, branches up to 5 mm high. Leaves small upto 0.5 mm, leathery, linear lanceolate, acuminata, flat base, arranged in distal position, margin entire. Costa strong, single, percurrent, forming arista. Thin walled hyaline lamina cells, hexagonal elongated with length of 50 m and width of 25 m, basal cells 98

29 rectangular. Seta erect, curved at tip, arise from the base of branches, reddish brown, long up to 1.5 cm, capsule large size, horizontal or dropping, bottle shaped 4 mm long. Peristome deep inserted, normal; reddish at base, 380 m high and 83 m wide at base (Plate 18). Habitat: Terri and Corticolous in evergreen forests. Specimens examined: Koilur (1000 m), , RHTM 051, Mathikettan Shola (1400 m), , RHTM Bryum medianum Mitt Bryum medianum Mitt. in Musci Ind. Or., 74 (1859). Plants large, tufted, green, stem erect upto 4 mm long, with 2 to 3 subfloral innovations, tomentose at base. Lower leaves small and lax, upper leaves large, clustered in comal tuft, erect spreading to erectopatent, spirally twisted when dry, ovate-spathulate 3 mm long and 1 to 1.5 mm broad at middle, acuminata, margin flat, entire below, serrate-denticulate above. Costa strong, excurrent in an arista 0.22 mm long. Leaf cells thinwalled, lax-rhomboidal, m at top, basal cells rectangular (Plate 19). Habitat: Tericolous in evergreen forests. Specimen Examined: Kuzhivalavu (1450), , RHTM Bryum wightii Mitt Bryum wightii Mitt. in Musci Ind. Or., 74 (1859); Bryum strigosum Wils. in Kew J. Bot., 9: 306 (1857); nom. nud. 99

30 Plants robust large, densely tufted, green above, reddish below. Stem erect, red, branched by several subfloral innovations, 3 cm long, tomentose. Lower leaves smaller and distant, upper leaves large, clustered in comal tufts, erectopatent to erect spreading, curled and crispate when dry, ovate oblong spathulate, concave, 5 mm long and 1.2 mm wide, acuminata, lower margin reflexed and entire, upper flat and serrulatedentate, older leaves reddish. Costa brown, strong, excurrent in a denticulate arista 0.3 mm long. Leaf cells slightly thick walled, rhomboid above and rectangular with thin walled below (Plate 20). RHTM 141. Habitat: Tericolous in evergreen forests. Specimen Examined: Pongaya Shola (1300 m), , Family: RHIZOGONIACEAE Plants medium to robust, inlax or close tufts. Stem with a central strand, tomentose below. Leaves uniform, spreading linear, lanceolate, flat, toothed, thickened at margin, costa excurrent, spinose on back. Cells irregularly rounded - hexagonal, thick walled, smooth. Sporophyte lateral from base. Capsule inclined or horizontal, ovoid - cylindric. Peristome teeth bryoid. Genus: PYRRHOBRYUM Plants greenish above, brownish below; leaves linear-lanceolate, tip incurved when dry, border thick, serrated, teeth often in pairs; costa 100

31 percurrent, toothed on back above; cells incrassate, rounded to elongate, smooth. 19. Pyrrhobryum spiniforme (L. ex Hedw.) Mitt. Pyrrhobryum spiniforme (L. ex Hedw.) Mitt., J. Linn. Soc. Bot., 10: 174 (1868); Hypnum spiniforme L. ex Hedw., Sp. Musc., 236 (1801); Rhizogonium spiniforme (L. ex Hedw.) Bruch in Krauss, Flora, 29: 134 (1846); Gangulee, Moss. E. India, 2(4): 1068 (1974); Mnium spiniforme (L. ex Hedw.) C. Muell., Syn. Musc. Frond., 1: 175 (1848); Rhynchostegium latifolium Aongstr., Oefv. K. Vet. Ak. Foerh., 29(4): 18 (1872); Rhizogonium pervilleanum Besch., Ann. Sc. Nat. Bor. Ser., 6(10): 242 (1880); R. pervillei Kindb., Enum. Bryin. Exot., 94 (1889). Erect, greenish brown, gregarious, in dense tufts on decaying wood, tomentose below, up to 4 cm height, flexuose. Leaves laxly arranged, erectospreading, incurved tips when dry; lower leaves smaller, upper leaves larger, linear-lanceolate, gradually acuminata, carinate-concave, up to 7 mm long and 2 mm wide at base, margin serrated. Costa single, percurrent. Leaf cells incrassate, smooth, oval or rounded quadrate to hexagonal. Sporophyte lateral from plant base, seta long up to 4 cm, capsule horizontal or inclined, 2 mm long (Plate 21). Habitat: Corticolous in evergreen, Deciduous, Scrub forests and Plantations. Specimens examined: Peria Shola (1400 m), , RHTM 022, , RHTM 029; Settur (1200 m), , RHTM 048,

32 2004, RHTM 067; Ellakkirai (1280 m), , RHTM 054, , RHTM 056, RHTM 058; Koilur (1000 m), , RHTM 060; Kuzhivalavu (1450), , RHTM 084. Order: ISOBRYALES Plants robust. Stem creeping, branches pendant or erect. Leaves isophyllous. Sometimes a nisophylloous, symmetric, rarely asymmetric, costa if present, single, forked at apex. Sporophytes lateral, hidden within leaves. Calyptra mitriform. Campanulate to cucullate, smooth or in hairy. Peristome teeth or not, if present one or 2 rowed. Key to Family: ISOBRYALES 1a. Branches and leaves complanate; leaves mostly asymmetrical Neckeraceae 1b. Branches and leaves not complanate; leaves mostly symmetrical 2 2a. Lamina cells papillose or incrassate Orthotrichaceae 2b. Lamina cells smooth 3 3a. Leaves 3-rowed with a smaller dorsal row Racopilaceae 3b. Leaves 2-many-rowed without a smaller dorsal row 4 4a. Secondary branches frondose to slenderly elongate; leaves neither recurved not squarrose Pterobryaceae 4b. Secondary branches never frondose, slender and elongated; leaves either recurved or squarrose Meteoriaceae Family: NECKERACEAE Sturdy, glossy plants. Primary stem filiform creeping, mostly without central strand, secondary stems erect or pendulous, subpinnate, strongly complanate. Leaves transversely undulate, short pointed. Costa single and short. Leaf cells smooth, rhomboidal above, linear towards base. 102

33 Key to Genus: Neckeraceae 1a. Plants glossy, papillae absent Homaliodendron 1b. Plant not glossy, rough papilliae in laminar cells Pinnatella Genus: HOMALIODENDRON Plants yellowish-green, robust, main stem creeping, microphyllose, branched and often with stolons, secondary stems ascending, usually complanate and flagelliform; leaves polymorphic, the lower stem leaves small, appressed, lanceolate, apiculate, upper normal, leaves on small branches complanate, 2-ranked, spreading, broad or oblong to spathulatelingulate, crenulate or coarsely toothed at the extreme apex, near the base nearly revolute on one side; costa single, feeble, ending in the mid leaf, cells smooth, firm walled, small, upper rounded polygonal, rhomboid in the middle, near the base elongated, often pitted; alar cells rectangular to ovate or quadrate, thick walled near the insertion; seta short, 2-3 mm long; capsule erect to slightly inclined, symmetrical, ovoid, peristome teeth narrow, lanceolate, pale greenish, papillose, calyptra cucullate, mostly small with long hairs, sometimes naked; spores small, rounded. Homaliodendron 1a. Leaves spreading, leaf tip rounded, costa strong H. flabellatum 1b. Leaves dense, leaf tip obtuse, costa weak H. obtusatum 20. Homaliodendron flabellatum (Sm.) M. Ferisch. Homaliodendron flabellatum (Sm.) M. Ferisch. in Hedwigia, 45: 74 (1906); Foreau in Bruehl in Rec. Bot. Surv. India, 13(1): 77 (1931); Dixon in 103

34 J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 39: 785 (1937); J. Madras Univ., 3: 121 (1931) & J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 58: 34 (1961); Wadhwa in M. V. M. Patrika, 6: 72 (1971); R. S. Chopra, Tax. Indian Moss., 369 (1975); Gangulee, Moss. E. India, 2(5): 1426 (1976); Hookeria flabellate Sm. in Trans. Linn. Soc. London, Bot., 9: 280 (1808); Type: West Indies (LIV); Leskea flabellate (Sm.) Schwagr., Sp. Musc. Frond. Suppl., 1(2): 164 (1816); Neckera dentate Griff., Not. Pl. Asiat., 2: 463 (1849); Type: Pl. LXXXVIII, fig. II. N. australasica Mull. Hal., Syn. Musc. Frond., 2: 42 (1850); Type: Australia, Owyhee Is., 1793; Menzies s. n. (GH, H, JE, STU); Hypnum flabellatum (Sm.) Dixon ex Mull. Hall., Syn. Musc. Frond., 2: 225 (1850); Neckera flabellate (Sm.) Mitt., Musc. Ind. Orient., 118 (1859); Homalia flabellate (Sm.) Bosch. & Sande Lac., Bryol. Jav., 2: 58 (1863); Broth. in Rec. Bot. Surv. India, 1(12): 325 (1899); Porotrichum dendroides Mitt. in Seem.; Fl. Vit., 397 (1873); Syntypes: Viti, Seemann s. n. (NY); Hawaii, Menzies & Douglas s. n. (NY). Porotrichum flabellatum (Sm.) Mitt. in Trans. Linn. Soc. London, Bot., 2, 3: 175 (1891); Homalia brachyphylla Renauld & Cardot in Rev. Bryol. 23: 103 (1896); Type: Tjibodas forests, Massart s. n. (PC); Homaliodendron dentatum (Griff.) M. Fleisch. in Hedwigia, 45: 75 (1906). Robust, epixylic, pale to bright green, glossy plants in lax tufts. Primary stem long, creeping, secondary stems inclined to horizontal, with appressed small leaves on stipe, pinnate frondose, upto 5 cm long. Stems without central strand. Leaves spreading horizontal to somewhat erect, longitudinally plicate when dry, asymmetrically oblong - lingulate, upto 104

35 3 mm long and 1.54 mm wide apex rounded. Costa single, ending below apex, sometimes bifurcating at top in one specimen and bunch of multicellular; ovate gemma is seen. Leaf cells incrassate, smooth, rhomboidal polygonal (Plate 22). Habitat : Corticolous in evergreen forests Specimen Examined: Semmedu (1220 m), , RHTM Homaliodendron obtusatum (Mitt.) Gangulee Homaliodendron obtusatum (Mitt.) Gangulee, Moss. E. India, 2(5): 1416 (1976); Homalia obtusata Mitt. in J. Linn. Soc., Bot., 8: 38 (1864); R. S. Chopra, Tax. Indian Moss., 371 (1975); Type: British Columbia, Lyell s. n. (BM). Main stem wiry, with small scaly leaves, creeping secondary branches erect or creeping upto 1.5 cm long, sparsely pinnately branched, complanate junger mannioid. Leaves dense, complanate, horizontally spread, lightly longitudinally plicate when dry, asymmetrically oblongspathulae, 1.5 mm long and 0.8 mm wide at top; apex obtuse, not apiculate, margin crenulate; inflexed on one side at base. Costa short (about 1/3 leaf) and feeble. Leaf cells incrassate, smooth, quadrate - polygonal at top, more elongated, rhomboid at lamina (Plate 23). Habitat : Corticolous in evergreen forest. Specimen Examined: Solakkadu (1200 m), , RHTM

36 Genus: PINNATELLA Plants slender to robust, not glossy, main stem creeping, secondary stem usually erect, sometimes pendant, bipinnately branched to form a dendroid form; leaves spreading, concave, broadly-ovate, short or long, apiculate, upper often minutely toothed; costa strong, mostly ending near the apex; cells thick walled, small, rounded-quadrate to hexagonal or rhomboid, upper unipapillose, rough, near the edge often in several rows of elongated cells; seta 3-5 mm long, yellow, somewhat rough; capsule erect, ovoid; spores rounded, about 20 m diagonally. 22. Pinnatella sps. Dull yellow-green, slendor to robust, rigid plants growing in lax tufts. Primary stem creeping, 2 cm long, secondary stems scattered, usually erect or inclined, bipinnately branched to form a frondose or dendroid head form a woody stipe. Leaves spreading, concave, rarely transversely undulate, longitudinally plicate, ovate to ligulate, 1.2 mm long and 0.5 mm wide; leaf with a toothed, narrowed point. Costa strong, ending just below apex. Leaf cells rounded hexagonal in lamina with coarse irregular papillae, elongated at base (Plate 24). Habitat: Corticolous in evergreen forests. Specimen Examined: Semmedu (1220 m), , RHTM

37 Family: ORTHOTRICHACEAE Plants robust, tufted. Pale above, dark below. Stem creeping or erect, without central strand. Leaves dense, appressed to stem, curled, widespreading, linear to lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, cells papillate to mamillate, incrassate. Calyptra mitriform, smooth or pilose. Operculum rostrate. Peristome teeth, if present, one or 2 rowed. Key to Genus: Orthotrichaceae 1a. Calyptra hairy, peristome lacking or rudimentary Macromitrium 1b. Calyptra not hairy, peristome single with truncate teeth Drummondia Genus: MACROMITRIUM Plants yellowish-green or brownish, slender to robust, in dense tufts; stem long creeping, erect or ascending, simple or fasciculately branched; leaves appressed when dry, sometimes spiraly twisted around the stem, erect to spreading when moist, smooth to undulate, near the base often concave, lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, obtuse or acute; costa moderately strong, ending below the apex or percurrent, sometimes shortly excurrent in a hair like arista; cells rounded to quadrate or rounded hexagonal at upper half, rich in chlorophyll, papillose to smooth, near the base elongate, thickened, smooth to strongly papillose on the plicae, sometimes all cells elongated; seta erect, usually elongate, rough; capsule nearly spherical to oblong-ovoid, calyptra campanulate, plicate, mostly covering the capsule, smooth or hairy, lobed; spores large of uneven size, papillose. 107

38 Key to Species: Macromitrium 1a, Leaf cells papillose M. moorcroftii 1b. Leaf cells not papillose 2 2a. Leaves spirally twisted when dry, capsule sulcate M. sulcatum 2b. Leaves curled when dry, capsule not sulcate Macromitrium sp. 23. Macromitrium moorcroftii (Hook. & Grev.) Schwaegr. Macromitrium moorcroftii (Hook. & Grev.) Schwaegr. in Sp. Musc. Suppl. 2(2): 67 (1826); Orthotrichum moorcroftii Hook. & Grev. in Edin. J. Sc., 1: 116 (1824); Leiotheca moorcroftii (Hook. & Grev.) Brid. in Bryol. Univ., 1: 727 (1826); Orthodon moorcroftii (Hook & Grev.) Griff. in Icon. Pl. As., 1: 76 (1849); Macromitrium pileatum Wils. in Kew J. Bot., 9: 327 (1857) nom. nud.; M. tortuosum Wils. in ibid. (1857) nom. nud. Robust green plants, tufts on tree trunks, up to 4 cm long, erect secondary branches up to 1 cm. Leaves dense, erectopatent, much curled when dry, lanceolate, plicate at base, 3.5 mm long and 0.6 mm wide at base, apex acute, margin little revolute at places. Costa single reaching the apex and forming arista. Leaf cells thick walled, papillose, upper cells rounded-quadrate, 11.5 m wide, highly bulging mamillose, mid leaf cells elongated, papillose, 15 9 m juctacostal cells at extreme base are rectangular elongated with comparatively thinner and smooth. Seta apical, erect on branches, capsule ovoid, narrow mouthed, peristome absent, calyptra mitriform and hairy (Plate 25). Habitat: Corticolous in Evergreen forests. 108

39 Specimens examined: Settur (1200 m), , RHTM 068, Kuzhivalavu (1450), , RHTM 085, RHTM Macromitrium sulcatum (Hook.) Brid. Macromitrium sulcatum (Hook.) Brid. in Bryol. Univ., 1: 319 (1826); Schlotheimia sulcata Hook. in Musci Exot., 2: 156 (1819); Macromitrium neelgheriense C. Muell. in Syn. 1: 737 (1849) as var.; M. neilgherrense C. Muell. in Bot. Zeit., 11: 61 (1853) as var.; M. corrugatum Wils. in Kew J. Bot., 9: 328 (1857) nom. nud.; M. tersum Wils. in ibid.: nom. nud. as var.; M. nilghiriense C. Muell. ex Mitt. in Musci Ind. Or.: 52 (1859); M. ceylanicum Mitt. in Musci. Ind. Or.: 52 (1859) as var.: M. ramentosum Thwait. et Mitt. in J. Linn. Soc. Bot., 13: 301 (1873) as asp. Tufted plants on tree trunks, up to 2 cm high, giving rise to erect secondary branches. Leaves dense, erect to erectopatent, usually carinate, more appressed and hook-like or spirally twisted when dry, lanceolate, 2 mm long and 0.65 mm wide, apex acute apiculate, margin entire, flat. Costa ending just behind tip. Leaf apical cells with highly thickened walls, irregularly rounded, mid leaf cell are thick walled, juxtacostal cells show elongated. Capsule erect, oval with narrowed mouth, clearly sulcate, operculum conic, long rostrate, peristome absent, calyptra mitriform, hairy (Plate 26). Habitat: Rupicolous and corticolous in evergreen and semi-evergreen forests. 109

40 Specimens examined: Solakkadu (1200 m), , RHTM 001, RHTM 002, RHTM 003; Mettukkadu (1050 m), , RHTM 016; Semmedu (1220 m), , RHTM 018, , RHTM 044; Kuzhivalavu (1450), , RHTM 036; Settur (1200 m), , RHTM 047; Ellakkirai (1280 m), , RHTM Macromitrium sp. Plants yellowish-green, long, creeping, crowded, tomentose below, branches very small, 6 mm long, leaves linear to lanceolate, upto 1.5 mm long, curled when dry, tip pointed, margin entire, upper portion wavy, costa yellowish-brown, strong ending below the tip, cells rounded to elongated, upper rounded, Hexagonal, 7.5 m diagonally, not papillose, basal cells elongated, m, Seta lateral, erect, capsule erect, ovate operculum conic to rostrate, calyptra hairy, peristome absent (Plate 27). Habitat: Corticolous in evergreen forests. Specimens examined: Solakkadu (1200 m), , RHTM 128. Genus: DRUMMONDIA Plants creeping with erect branches as in Macromitrium. Dry leaves erect and appressed on stem. Leaf cells mostly rounded, usually not papillose. Capsule broad, Calyptra cucullate, not hairy. 26. Drummondia stricta (Mitt.) C. Muell. Drummondia stricta (Mitt.) C. Muell. in Nuov. Giorn. Bot. Ital. n. ser. 3: 106 (1896); Zygodon strictus Mitt. in Musci Ind. Or.: 47 (1859). 110

41 Green plants in tufts, usually corticolous. Main stem is creeping upto 2 cm long and ascending with erect secondary shoots which are simple or dichotomously branched. Leaves dense, erectopatent to spreading, erect and appressed to stem when dry, elongate elliptical, 1.66 mm long and 0.5 mm broad, apex narrowly acute, margin flat and entire. Leaf cells thick walled, smooth, tumescent, irregularly rounded-quadrate- hexagonal, 9-10 m wide; at extreme base cells are sub-rectangular, large (upto m) at just costal region and smaller near margin. Capsule erect, ovate, seta short, peristome not clear, calyptra cucullate (Plate 28). Habitat: Terri and Corticolous in evergreen forests. Specimen Examined: Solakkadu (1200 m), , RHTM 102, RHTM 105. Family: RACOPILACEAE Plants slender to robust olive green to brown-tinged. Stem creeping with an indistinct central strand. Leaves 3-rowed, one dorsal and two lateral, oblong-ovate, acuminate, long aristate at apex; cells roundedquadrate to rhomboidal. Costa single excurrent, Capsule exserted. Calyptra cucullate, faintly pilose. Peristome teeth 2 rowed, hypnoid. Genus: RACOPILUM Plants olive green to brown tinged, prostrate, racticulose; leaves dimorphic, large lateral leaves in two rows, dorsal leaves much smaller, resembling amphigastria; costa strong, usually excurrent; cells rounded or 111

42 hexagonal, chlorophyllose; seta elongate; capsule inclined, peristome double, calyptra cucullate, hairy. Key to Species: Racopilum 1a. Leaves show strong dentation in lateral, arista not long R. cuspidigerum 1b. Leaf dentation not strong in lateral, arista long R. orthocarpum 27. Racopilum cuspidigerum (Schwaegr.) Aongstr. Racopilum cuspidigerum (Schwaegr.) Aongstr. Aongstr. in Oefv. K. Vet. Ak. Foerh., 29 (4): 10 (1872); Hypnum cuspidigerum Schwaegr. in Gaud. in Freyc.: Voyage Aut. Monde Oranie Phys. Bot.: 229 (1828); Hookeria tomentosa (Hedw.) Arnott var. subintegrifolia Arnott in Mem. Soc. Hist. Nat. Paris, 5: 250 (1897); Racopilum demissum Bosch & Lac. in Bryol. Jav., 2: 18 (1861) as var. Yellow green (brown below), epixylic in tufts with many fine rhizoids on the main stem. Leaves dimorphic, lateral leaves 1.5 mm long and 0.85 mm wide, margin dentate strongly on top, arista 0.5 mm long. Costa strong, excurrent. Leaf cells incrassate smooth or swelling to form a single papilla on top of lumen, parenchymatous, quadrate, hexagonal to rhomboid or rounded. Sporophyte not seen (Plate 29). Habitat: Lignicolous in evergreen and semi-evergreen forests. Specimen examined: Pongaya Shola (1300 m), , RHTM

43 28. Racopilum orthocarpum Wils. ex. Mitt. Racopilum orthocarpum Wils. ex. Mitt., J. Linn. Soc. Bot. Suppl., 1: 136 (1859); Gangulee, Moss. E. India, 2(5): 1199 (1976); Madhus. & M. C. Nair, J. Eco. Taxon. Bot., 28: 341 (2004). Yellow green, in tufts, main stem prostrate or ascendant branches upto 1.5 cm long. Leaves on branches, lax, dimorphic, in three rows, two lateral and one dorsal, lateral leaves spreading, larger, ovate, acute tipped, long aristate, 1.5 mm long and 0.75 mm wide, margin flat, dentate at top but not strong. Costa strong, excurrent, dorsal or amphigastrial row much smaller, appressed, erect or drooping with proportionally longer arista. Leaf cell wall thickened, smooth, irregularly quadrate-rectangular. Seta erect (spirally twisted when dry), capsule erect, cylindrical, opercul um conicrostrate, peristome distinctly double, hypnoid (Plate 30). Habitat: Corticolous in evergreen forests. Specimens examined: Kuzhivalavu (1450), , RHTM 004, RHTM 005, RHTM 006, RHTM 007; Peria Shola (1400 m), , RHTM 024. Family: PTEROBRYACEAE Fairly robust, with flagelliform branches or not, branches erect or pendant, stem without central strand. Leaves dense, on all sides of branch, ovate, acuminate at apex. Costa if present single or double, leaf cells thick walled, elongate, porose, usually smooth, alar often differentiated. 113

44 Capsules within leaves to exserted. Calyptra smooth. Peristome teeth 2-rowed, the inner rudimentary. Key to Genus: Pterobryaceae 1a. Costa single, covering at least half of the leaf Pterobryopsis 1b. Costa double, short, may be absent Symphysodentella Genus: PTEROBRYOPSIS Plants golden-yellowish to greenish, slender to robust, glossy; leaves ovate-cordate, appressed to stem when dry, shortly and narrowly acuminate from an ovate base, entire or toothed in the apical part; costa single, mostly ending in the middle, rarely double or absent, cells smooth, rhomboid to narrowly linear, at the base large, brown, pitted; alar cells large, thick walled, often reddish-brown; capsule mostly raised, oblong, orange-brown, operculum rostrate; spores large, rounded, papillose. Key to Species: Pterobryopsis 1a. Leaves ovate - cordate, tip apiculate P. acuminata 1b. Leaves elongate - ovate, shortly acuminate P. orientalis 29. Pterobryopsis acuminata (Hook.) Fleisch. Pterobryopsis acuminata (Hook.) Fleisch. in Hedwigia, 45: 59 (1905); Neckera acuminata Hook. in Musci Exot., 2: 15 (1819); Meterorium acuminatum (Hook.) Mitt. in Musci Ind. Or.: 86 (1859); Endotrichum acuminatum (Hook.) Jaeg. in Ber. S. Gall. Naturw. Ges., : 233 (1877); Garovaglia acuminata (Hook.) Par. in Index Bryol.: 507 (1896). 114

45 Creeping, greenish brown, branched dendroid pinnate, about 4 cm long, branches slender but rigid. Leaves dense, imbricate, erectopatent, concave, ovate-cordate, tip apiculate up to 2 mm long, plicate, margin flat, faintly denticulate, undulated obliquely from the base and in middle. Costa single, ending at two thirds of leaf. Leaf cells thick walled, smooth, elongate, linear, walls porose, alar cells deep red brown, rectangular up to m. Sporophyte not seen (Plate 31). Habitat: Corticolous in evergreen forests. Specimen examined: Arappuleeswarar (Kuttar) (850 m), , RHTM 088; Solakkadu (1200 m), , RHTM Pterobryopsis orientalis (C. Muell) Fleisch Pterobryopsis orientalis (C. Muell) M. Fleisch., Hedwigia, 59: 217 (1917); Gangulee, Moss. E. India, 2(5): 1272 (1976); Neckera orientalis C. Muell., Bot. Zeitung. Berlin, 14: 437 (1856); Meteorium foulkesianum Mitt., Musc. Ind. Orient., 85 (1859); Leucodon orientalis (C. Muell.) A. Jaeger, Ber. Senckenberg. Naturf. Ges., : 217 (1877); Endotrichum foulkesianum (Mitt.) A. Jaeger, ibid., 76: 233 (1877); Garovaglia foulkesiana (Mitt.) Paris, Index Bryol. Suppl., 508 (1896); Pterobryopsis foulkesiana (Mitt.) M. Fleisch., Hedwigia 45: 60 (1905); P. yuennanensis Broth., Sitz. Ak. Wiss. Wien Math. Nat. Kl., Abtl., 133: 573 (1924). Yellow green plants with slender branches but secondary branches are stiff, upto 6 cm. Leaves dense, imbricate, erectopatent to spreading concave, elongate to ovate, plicate, tip shortly acuminate and cucullate, 115

46 2.88 mm long and 1.28 mm broad; margin flat, faintly denticulate above. Costa single, covering not more than half of the leaf. Leaf cells elongate linear, thick walled, walls in cells below tip porose m, on top of base 52 7 m (elongated rhomboid). Sporophyte on lateral shoots, seta erect, capsule erect, ovate-cylinderical, peristome not seen (Plate 32). Habitat: Corticolous in evergreen forests. Specimen Examined: Kuzhivalavu (1450), , RHTM 122. Genus: SYMPHYSODENTELLA Main stem long, creeping on bark. Branches pale green to brownish, glossy, usually dendroid by pinnate or bipinnate branching, sometimes with flagelliform branches, leaves ovate-lanceolate, acuminata, concave. Costa short, single or double. Leaf cells elongate, smooth, alar not differentiated. Capsule immersed or exserted. Exostome teeth evenly spaced (not in pairs). Endostome rudimentary or absent. Calyptra small, cucullate, naked. Spores large, papillose. 31. Symphysodentella borii Dix. Symphysodentella borii Dix. in J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 39: 781 (1937). Plants light green above, brownish below, pinnately branched, about 2 cm long. Leaves dense, imbricate, erect to erectopatent, concave, plicate, ovate-lanceolate, up to 2 mm long and 0.75 mm wide, acute, margin denticulate at tip. Leaf cells lightly incrassate, elongate linear, 116

47 Ecosate, cells at stem coloured, alar cells differentiated, deep brown, rectangular. Sporophyte on short lateral shoots, capsule erect, oval, 1 mm long and 0.8 mm in diameter, capsule erect, oval, 1 mm long and 0.7 mm diameter (Plate 33). Habitat: Corticolous in evergreen forests. Specimen examined: Kuzhivalavu (1450), , RHTM 123. Family: METEORIACEAE Slender to robust plants, hanging from trees. Creeping, filiform, secondary stem elongate, flexuose, pendant, branched, densely foliose. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, acuminate to subulate, cells rhomboid, smooth or papillate, alar region indistinct. Capsule exserted. Peristome teeth 2-rowed. Calyptra small, cucullate, pilose or not. Key to Genus: Meteroiaceae 1a. Cells with two rows of papillae on the laminal cells Cryptopapillaria 1b. Cells with one central line of papillae on the laminal cells 2 2a. Plants not glossy, very delicate, feather like, cells multipapillate, cells distinct Flouribundaria 2b. Plants glossy, thick, strong cells smooth or papillate, alar cells differentiated 3 3a. Leaves squrrose to erectopatent, sporophyte on short side shoot Aerobryidium 3b. Leaves spreading, sporophyte lateral 4 4a. Leaves sheathing, costa single, fruit ending near mid leaf Aerobryum 4b. Leaves half sheathing, costa single, prominent ends at upper half of the leaf Meteoriopsis 117

48 Genus: CRYPTOPAPILLARIA Plants yellowish-green, robust; secondary stems many, elongate; leaves closely or distantly imbricate when dry, erecto-patent from a cordate or auriculate base when moist, oblong to lanceolate, apex shortly or longly acuminata or hair pointed, margin entire or minutely toothed, two rows of papillae on the laminal cells; costa narrow, single, not percurrent; cells rhomboidal to linear, two rows of papillae on the wall, at the base adjoining the costa hyaline, smooth, auricular in oblique rows, alar cells not distinct; seta very short, rough; capsule completely immersed or exserted, ovoid to oblong-ovoid; peristome teeth yellowish-white, calyptra small, more or less papillose. 32. Cryptopapillaria fuscescens (Hook.) A. Jaeger Cryptopapillaria fuscescens (Hook.) A. Jaeger, Ber. Senckenberg. Naturf. Ges., : 270 (1877); Broth., Rec. Bot. Surv. India, 1(12): 323 (1899); P. Bruehl, Rec. Bot. Surv. India, 13(1): 71 (1931); Dixon, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 39: 783 (1937); Foreau, J. Madras Univ. Sect. B., 3: 119 (1931) & J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 58: 33 (1961); Sundararagh & Wadhwa, Bull. Bot. Surv. India, 10: 346 (1968); R. S. Chopra, Tax. Indian Mosses, 333 (1975); Gangulee, Moss. E. India, 2(5): 1284 (1976); Madhus. & Nair, M. C. J. Econ. Tax. Bot., 28: 341 (2004); Neckera fuscescens Hook., Musc. Exot., 2: 157 (1819); Daltonia fuscescens (Hook.) Arn., Mem. Soc. Linn. Paris, 5: 296 (1827); Pilotrichum fuscescens (Hook.) Brid., Bryol. Univ., 2: 264 (1827); Neckera chrysoclada C. Muell., Syn. Musc. Frond., 2: 118

49 139 (1850); Trachypus fuscescens (Hook.) Mitt., Musc. Ind. Orient., 128 (1859); Meteorium fuscescens (Hook.) Bosch & Sande-Lac., Bryol. Jav., 2: 93 (1864); Papillaria chrysoclada (C. Muell.) A. Jaeger, Ber. Senckenberg. Naturf. Ges., : 270 (1877); P. fuscescens (C. Muell.) A. Jaeger, var. crassiramea Renauld & Cardot., Bull. Soc. Bot. Belgium, 38: 19 (1900); P. feae C. Muell. ex M. Fleisch., Die Musci Fl. Buitenz., 3: 761 (1908); P. Bruehl, Rec. Bot. Surv. India, 13(1): 23 (1931); P. fuscescens (C. Muell.) A. Jaeger var. gracilis M. Fleisch., Die Musci Fl. Buitenz. 3: 761 (1908); P. bamfothiae Broth. ex Dixon, J. Bot. (Morot), 50: 148 (1912). Branches slender, erect to drooping, up to 12 cm long, greenish. Leaves dense, erect, upto 2 mm long, imbricate oblong-lanceolate, auriculate, apex acuminate, twisted, margin finely denticulate crenulate at apex and base, costa single, ending at midleaf. Leaves undulate, leaf cells small, linear-rhomboidal with single linear Papillae, shorter and rectangular at auricle. Sporophyte not seen (Plate 34). Habitat: Corticolous in evergreen forests. Specimen examined: Semmedu (1220 m), , RHTM 017. Genus: FLORIBUNDARIA Plants slender, in looser tufts, main stem prostrate, pinnately branched, branches short or elongate; branch and branchlet leaves distichous, widened from a small decurrent, rounded base, narrowly lanceolate, hyaline, acuminate, margin plane or recurved near the base, serrate; costa single, thin; cells narrow, linear-rhomboid, usually more or 119

50 less papillose, near the base wider, alar cells nearly quadrate, smooth, sometimes absent; stem leaves and those near the base smaller, base broad, long acumen, alar cells distinct; seta 2-4 mm long; capsule erect, inclined, ovoid or oblong-ovoid, calyptra cucullate, small, mostly sparsely hairy; spores rounded, m diagonally. Key to Species: Floribundaria 1a. Plant large, costa strong, papillae few F. armata 1b. Plant small, costa very weak, papillae larger F. walkeri 33. Floribundaria armata Broth. Floribundaria armata Broth. in Symb. Sin., 4: 83 (1929). Green to brownish, secondary branches pendulous flexuose, irregularly pinnately branched, up to 8 cm. Leaves in more than two rows, erect to spreading, lanceolate, 3 mm long and 0.8 mm wide at base, acuminata, somewhat cordate at base, margin finely denticulate, flat, concave, longitudinally plicate. Leaf cells linear to elongate rhomboid, moderately incrassate, lamina cells leave 1 to 3 small seriate papillae on lumen and inner wall, leaf attachment cells rectangular, alar cells differentiated by rectangular, deep red-brown cells. Sporophyte not seen (Plate 35). Habitat: Corticolous in evergreen forests. Specimen examined: Pongaya Shola (1300 m), , RHTM

51 34. Floribundaria walkeri (Ren. & Card.) Broth. Floribundaria walkeri (Ren. & Card.) Broth. in Engl. & Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam. 1(3): 822 (1906); Bruehl in Rec. Bot. Surv. India, 13(1): 73 (1931); Wadhwa in M. V. M. Patrika, 4: 92 (1969); R. S. Chopra, Tax. Indian Moss., 346 (1975); Gangulee, Mosses E. India, 2(5): 1306 (1976); Papillaria walker Renauld & Cardot in Bull. Soc. Roy. Bot. Belgique, 34: 70 (1896); Type: India (W. Bengal), Edentale Plantation near Kurseong, Nov. 1893, Walker s. n. (Herb. Cardot PC). Creeping, yellowish brown, very delicate, slender, branched pinnately, up to 2 cm long. Leaves arranged in distant, feather like, concave, ovate lanceolate, apex narrow acuminata, base narrowed margin flat, smooth, costa very weak, scarcely detectable, auriculate, leaf up to 2 mm long and 0.5 mm wide at base, narrow towards the top. Leaf cells narrow, linear, incrassate, seriate multipapillate. Sporophyte on short lateral shoots with perichaetial leaves. Seta erect, capsule cylindrical, operculum conical ((Plate 36). Habitat: Corticolous in evergreen forests. Specimen examined: Koilur (1000 m), , RHTM 052; Semmedu (1220 m), , RHTM 063; Settur (1200 m), , RHTM 070; Solakkadu (1200 m), , RHTM

52 Genus: AEROBRYIDIUM More or less robust, glossy plants with hanging secondary branches. Leaves squarrose to erectopatent, usually ovate-lanceolate, acuminata subulate, somewhat undulate or plicate. Costa single, incomplete. Leaf cells linear elongate or rhomboid, unipapillate, with porose walls, lax and wider in alar regions. Sporophyte on short side shoots. Seta long, slightly papillose. Peristome double, exostome and endostome of same height, teethwith median line, cilia rudimentary or absent, basal membrane moderately high. Operculum obliquely rostrate. Calyptra cucullate, hairy. 35. Aerobryidium filamentosum (Hook.) Fleisch. Aerobryidium filamentosum (Hook.) Fleisch. in Broth. in Nat. Pfl., 1(3): 821 (1906); Neckera filamentosa Hook. in Musci exot., 2: 158 (1819); Hypnum aureonitens Hook. ex Schwaegr. in Sp. Musc. Suppl., 3(1): 221 (1827); Pilotrichum filamentosum (Hook.) Brid. in Bryol. Univ., 2: 264 (1827); Daltonia filamentosa (Hook.) Arnott in Mem. Soc. Linn. Paris. 5: 296 (1827); Pilotrichum punctulatum C. Muell. in Bot. Zeit., 12: 571 (1854); Meteorium filamentosum (Hook.) Mitt. in Musci Ind. Or.: 91 (1859); M. aureonitens (Schwaegr.) Mitt. in ibid.: 91 (1859); M. punctulatum (C. Muell.) Mitt. in ibid.: 91 (1859); Aerobryidium aureonitens (Schwaegr.) Broth. in Nat. Pfl., 1(3): 820 (1906); Chryphaedelphus filamentosus (Hook.) C. Muell. in Fleisch. in Musci Fl. Buitenz., 3: 791 (1908) nom. nud. in synon.; Aerobryidium punctulatum (C. Muell.) Dix. in J. Bot., 50: 150 (1911); A. subfilamentosum Card. mss. in Chopra in Tax. Ind. Moss: 339 (1975). 122

53 Plants robust, yellow green above, creeping upto 4 cm long brownish below, secondary branches branched pinnately and hanging upto 2 cm long. Leaves imbricate, squarrose, dense, oval-lanceolate, gradually narrowing into a long subula, cucullate tipped leaf, up to 4.5 mm long and 2 mm wide in the base, base cordate, margin wavy at places, very faintly denticulate. Costa single, covering ⅓ of the leaf. Leaf cells rhomboid or elongate rhomboid, with a single papilla on the top of the lumen except at tip and base, wider and smooth at base with a few quadrate and smooth at the alar regions, basal cells with slightly porose thickened walls. Sporophyte not seen (Plate 37). Habitat: Terricolous in evergreen and semi-evergreen forests. Specimen examined: Mathikettan Shola (1400 m), , RHTM 023; Periasamykoil Shola (1300 m), , RHTM 026; Kuzhivalavu (1450), , RHTM 040; , RHTM 144; Semmedu (1220 m), , RHTM 136. Genus: AEROBRYUM Plants robust, glossy with long, sparingly branched, secondary stems pendant, whole stem leafy; leaves squarrose, widely spreading, broadly ovate, acuminata, margin serrate; costa single, faint, ending near the midleaf; cells thin to thick walled, rhomboid-linear to elliptic-ovate, smooth; alar cells absent or indistinct; sporophyte on ultimate branches; seta slender smooth; capsule suberect, exserted, peristome double; spores rounded, m diagonally. 123

54 36. Aerobryum speciosum Dozy & Molk. Aerobryum speciosum Dozy & Molk., Ned. Kruidk. Arch., 2(4): 280 (1851); Gangulee, Moss. E. India, 2(5): 1347 (1976); Meteoriu specium (Dozy & Molk.) Mitt., J. Linn. Soc. Bot. Suppl., 1: 87 (1859); Aerobryum nipponicum (Nog.) Sak., Musc. Jap., 10 (1954); A. speciosum var. nipponicum Nog J. Hattori Bot. Lab., 3: f. 3 (1948). Pseudoautoicous. Stem upto 10 cm long; Leaves upto 2 mm long, broady ovate form a subcordate base, narrowed to a short acuminate tip, broadly inflexed on one or both sides, 3.2 mm long and 2.24 mm wide margin finely denticulate. Costa single, covering half of the leaf. Leaf cells linear, smooth, pellucid, walls mildly incrassate, porose at base, m at tip, 80 8 m in lamina, m at base, m in the alar region (Plate 38). Habitat: Terricolous in evergreen forests. Specimen Examined: Mettukkadu (1050 m), , RHTM 011. Genus: METEORIOPSIS Plants slender to robust, secondary stems many, long, pendant, pinnate, whole stem leafy; leaves ovate to nearly orbicular, arises from half-sheathing or squarrose-spreading base, shortly pointed to long and narrowly acuminata, whole margin minutely to strongly serrate; costa single, ending in the upper half of the leaf, cells narrowly rhomboid to linear, uni- to multi-papillose, sometimes smooth, near the base wide, alar 124

55 cells not differentiated; seta short; capsule erect, ovoid to oblong, brown, smooth, peristome teeth lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, long and narrowly subulate, operculum with straight or oblique beak, calyptra covering only on the upper part of the urn, many lobed and usually hairy, or rough near the tip; fruiting not common. Key to Species: Meteoriopsis 1a. Leaf tip deflexed, short pilose, cells with two small papillae M. squarrosa 1b. Leaf tip more reflexed, suddenly acuminata, cells with papillae except at extreme tip and base M. reclinata 37. Meteoriopsis squarrosa (Hook.) M. Fleisch. Meteoriopsis squarrosa (Hook.) M. Fleisch. in Broth., Nat. Pflanzenfam. 1(3): 826 (1906), Gangulee, Moss. E. India 2(5): 1349 (1976), Mohamed et al., J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 83: 689 (1986), Neckera squarrosa Hook., Icon. Pl. Rar. 1: 22 (1836), Pilotrichum squarrosum (Hook.) C. Muell., Syn. Musc. Frond. 2: 154 (1850), Meteorium squarrosum (Hook.) Mitt., Musci. Ind. Orient. 87 (1859). Plants robust, yellow-green, glossy plants in dense masses, secondary shoot pendulous up to 15 cm long, irregularly pinnately branched. Leaves dense, squarrose, with tips deflexed, ovate-lanceolate, sheathing, cordate, quickly narrowed at top to a sharp point 2.5 mm long and 1.5 mm wide, margin dentate. Costa single, ending above midleaf. Leaf cells elongated, rhomboidal, chlorophyllous, near base more rhomboid with 125

56 1 or 2 small papillae, cells on the short auricle smooth, rectangular with porose walls at the alar region. Sporophyte not seen (Plate 39). Habitat: Corticolous in evergreen, semi-evergreen, Decidous, Scrub forests and Plantations. Specimen examined: Semmedu (1220 m), , RHTM 066; Solakkadu (1200 m), , RHTM 104; , RHTM Meteoriopsis reclinata (C. Muell) M. Fleisch. M. Fleisch. in Broth., Nat. Pflanzenfam. 1(3): ; P. Bruehl, Rec. Bot. Surv. India 13(1): ; Dixon, J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc. 58: 17 (1961); R. S. Chopra, Tax. Indian Mosses, 351 (1975); Gangulee, Moss. E. India, 2(5): 1354 (1976); Pilotrichum reclinatum C. Muell., Bot. Zeitung. 12: 572 (1854); Meteorium reclinatum (C. Muell.) Mitt., Musc. Ind. Orient. 87 (1859); Broth., Rec. Bot. Surv. India, 1(12): 322 (1899); M. phaeum Bosch. & Sande-Lac., Bryol. Jav. 2: 86 (1864). Plants yellowish-green, variously branched, secondary branches pendulous upto 20 cm; leaves oblong-ovate, faintly serrated all around, strongly deflexed at tips, leaves plicate, 2.5 mm long, 1 mm wide, curled backwards both in fresh and dried; costa faint, single, ending far below the apex; cells narrow elongate, m at apex, cells at basal half irregularly rectangular, smooth, m, 2-3 small papillae, except at extreme base and tip; sporophyte not seen (Plate 40). Habitat: Corticolous in plantations. 126

57 Specimens examined: Shoolavanthi Shola (1020 m), , RHTM 106; Semmedu (1220 m), , RHTM 109, RHTM 110. Order: HOOKERIALES Plants slender to robust, caespitose or forming mats. Stem creeping to erect, irregularly branched, complanate or not, leaves in three rows, asymmetrical or not, cells rhomboid to linear rhomboid, smooth with walls pitted or not, costa single or double. Seta lateral. Key to Family: HOOKERIALES 1a. Leaves 3-4 rowed with a distinct amphigastrial row Hypopterygiaceae 1b. Leaves 4-8 rowed without a distinct amphigastrial row Hookeriaceae Family: HYPOPTERYGIACEAE Plants slender to robust, stem creeping to erect, rhizomatous, secondary stem dendroid. Leaves dimorphic, lateral rows complanate, ovate, asymmetrical, serrate, one ventral row distinctly amphigastrial smaller, more acuminate. Costa single. Leaf cells rhomboid to rhomboidhexagonal, capsule exserted. Genus: HYPOPTERYGIUM Plants slender to robust, main stem creeping, long, secondary stem frondose or irregularly pinnately branched; leaves often recurved when dry, sometimes strongly crumpled to one side, spreading when moist, lateral leaves broadly ovate, ovate-oblong or ovate-lingulate, bordered, tip serrated; amphigastrial leaves smaller, broadly ovate or suborbicular, with 127

58 narrow acumen, bordered, margin serrate or entire above; costa single, ending well below the apex, excurrent in the amphigastrial leaf; cells rhomboid or rounded, six sided, smooth, near the base longer and wider; seta elongate, smooth; capsule inclined to horizontal, ovoid to cylindrical, thick necked, calyptra nacked, cucullate or conical; spores small, rounded. 39. Hypopterygium tamarisci (Sw.) Brid. & C. Muell. Hypopterygium tamarisci (Sw.) Brid. & C. Muell., Syn. Musc. Frond. 2: 8 (1850); P. Bruehl, Rec. Bot. Surv. India, 13(1): 84 (1931); Foreau, Madras Univ., 3: 121 (1931) & J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc., 58: 36 (1961); Wadhwa, M. V. M. Patrika, 6: 74 (1971); R. S. Chopra, Tax. Indian Mosses, 397 (1975); Mohamed & H. Rob., Smith. Contr. Bot., 80: 37 (1991); Hypnum tamarisci Sw., Fl. Ind. Occ., 3: 1825 (1806); H. laricinum Hook., Musc. Exot., 2(1): 35 (1818); Hypopterygium laricinum (Hook.) Brid., Bryol. Univ., 2: 714 (1827); Hypnum scutellatum Taylor, London J. Bot., 6: 338 (1847); Hypopterygium flavescens Hampe, Linnaea, 20: 95 (1847); H. scutellatum (Taylor) C. Muell., Syn. Musc. Frond., 2: 7 (1850); H. tenellum C. Muell., Bot. Ztg. Regensburg, 12: 557 (1854); Mohamed & H. Rob., Smithsonian Contr. Bot., 80: 37 (1991); H. rigidulum Mitt., J. Linn. Soc. Bot., 12: 329 (1869); H. sylvaticum Mitt., J. Linn. Soc. Bot., 12: 329 (1869); H. argentinicum Lorentz & C. Muell., Linnaea., 42: 404 (1879); H. lehmanrii Besch., Bull. Herb. Boissier, 2: 399 (1894); H. bolivianum Herzog, Beih. Bot. Centralbl., 26(2): 81 (1909). 128

59 Green plants, primary stem creeping, radiculose, secondary stem erect, up to 2 cm high, dendroid. Leaves dimorphic, lateral leaves pinnately spreading, 1.5 mm long and 0.1 mm wide, ovate with short acuminata apexs, margin toothed in upper part, entire below, Costa distinct run upto apex, amphigastgrial leaves 1 mm long and 0.55 mm wide, orbicular with sharp apiculus, margin crenulate above, entire below, costa weakly defined, median cells hexagonal, weakly bordered all around with 1-2 rows of cells. Sporophyte not seen (Plate 41). Habitat: Terricolous in evergreen and semi-evergreen forests. Specimen examined: Semmedu (1220 m), , RHTM 019; Mettukkadu (1050 m), , RHTM 020; Shoolavanthi Shola (1020 m), , RHTM 093. Family: Hookeriaceae Plants yellowish, dark greenish, irregularly to pinnately branched, leaves 4-8 rowed, shape varies, mostly bordered, minutely serrated at upper half, costa single, double or absent, cells smooth or papillose, wide, alar cells not differentiated, seta on lateral branches, capsule inclined or horizontal, peristome double, calyptra conical, lobed or fringed at base, scabrouse or pilose. 129

60 Genus: CYATHOPHORELLA Dioicous. Medium-sized dull green plants in lax tufts, not dendroid. Primary stem rhizomatous, densely tomentose. Secondary stems usually simple, may be forked; terminal parts caudate, often with filamentous gemmae clusters. Lateral leaves more or less asymmetrical. Amphigastria in one row. Leaves bordered. Costa short, single or forked. Peristome double, basal membrane low, cilia absent. Key to Species : Cyathophorella 1a. Leaf border complete, margin of leaf smooth C. hookeriana 1b. Leaf border incomplete, margin of leaf dentate Cyathophorella sp. 40. Cyathophorella hookeriana (Griff) Fleisch. Cyathophorella hookeriana (Griff) Fleisch. in Musci Fl. Buitenz., 3: 1094 (1908); Neckera hookeriana Griff. in Notul. Pl. Asiat., 2: 464 (1849) (Pl. 84-II); Cyathophorum hookerianum (Griff.) Mitt. in Musci. Ind. Or., 147 (1859); C. marginatum Wils. in Mitt. in ibid., nom. nud. in synon.; C. philippinense Broth. in Leafl. Philipp. Bot., 2: 657 (1909); Cyathophorella densifolia Horik. in Bot. Mag. Tokyo, 48: 460 (1935); C. philippinense (Broth.) Bartr. in Philipp. J. Sci., 68: 427 (1939) in synon. Yellow green, rhizomatous, dichotomously branched, up to 1 cm high. Leaves dimorphic, lateral leave arranged in two rows in equidistant, asymmetric, ovate, up to 1.5 mm long and 0.8 mm wide at base, apex apiculate, margin entire, completely bordered. Costa single, up to the middle. Amphigastrial leaves at ventral side, short, symmetric, smooth 130

61 margin, apiculate, ovate-cordate, costa single, run up to ⅓ of the leaf. Leaf cells rhomboid irregular at base, porose. Sporophyte not seen (Plate 42). Habitat: Corticolous in evergreen forests. Specimen examined: Solakkadu (1200 m), , RHTM 078; Sottupparai (1250 m), , RHTM Cyathoporella sps. Main stem tomentose, short creeping, secondary branches erect, loosely tufted, usually unbranched upto 2 cm long. Leaves, clusters lax, widely spreading (shrunk but still widely spreading when dry) lateral leaves little asymmetrical, oblong-ovate, acuminate, 4.5 mm long and 1.8 mm broad; margin serrate - spinose, the sponous cells form a border; at base where spines are not present. Costa forked, short, leaf cell rhomboid at base, becoming narrower towards border (Plate 43). Habitat: Corticolous in evergreen forests. Specimen Examined: Solakkadu (1200 m), , RHTM 125. Order: HYPNOBRYALES Plants slender, forming mats, dull or glossy, yellow-green to brown. Stem creeping, irregularly to pinnately branched or not. Leaves complanate, ovate, lanceolate, acuminate, cells linear-rhomboid, smooth or papillate, costa half as leaf or longer, single or double. Sporophyte on main stem or branches. Seta erect, smooth or papillose. Capsule horizontal. Peristome teeth 2 rowed, hypnoid. 131

62 Key to Family: HYPNOBRYALES 1a. Plants usually not glossy; branching regularly pinnate; frondose with Paraphyllia Thuidiaceae 1b. Plants glossy; branching irregular to pinnate; not frondose, without paraphyllia 2 2a. Leaf cells elongate to rhomboid; alar cells differentiated Entodontaceae 2b. Leaf cells linear, alar cells poorly differentiated 3 3a. Alar cells large, vesicular and coloured Sematophyllaceae 3b. Alar cells small, quadrate to subquadrate, not coloured 4 4a. Leaf cells linear, costa short or absent, alar cells poorly differentiated Hypnaceae 4b. Leaf cells elongate to rhomboid at tip, costa strong, leaf cells at middle smooth or with projecting ends Brachytheciaceae Family: THUIDIACEAE Slender to robust, tufted, non-glossy, stem creeping, 1-3 times pinnately branched, frondose, with paraphyllia. Leaves dimorphic, faintly contorted, appressed when dry, ovate, acuminata, cells parenchymatous, smooth or papillate, costa single. Genus: THUIDIUM Plants yellowish-green, robust; stem creeping, stiff, changing into elongated stolons and again becoming leafy, bi- or tri-pinnate, often flabellate; stem leaves strongly plicate, triangular to ovate-cordate, mostly with recurved margin, upwards serrate; costa strong, broad in the basal part, percurrent or ending below the apex, sometimes excurrent; branch leaves ovate-lanceolate with shorter and fainter costa, never crumpled; cells more or less thickened and mostly oblong to ovate six-sided, 132

63 unipapillose over the lumen; seta long, smooth or rough, yellowish-orange; capsule inclined to horizontal, ovoid-oblong, yellowish orange, smooth or faintly papillose; spores brown, small, 8-16 m diagonally. 42. Thuidium tamariscellum (C. Muell) Bosch. & Sande-Lac. Thuidium tamariscellum (C. Muell) Bosch. & Sande-Lac., Bryol. Jav., 2: 20 (1865); Gangulee, Moss. E. India, 2(7): 1637 (1978); Hypnum tamariscellum C. Muell., Bot. Zeitung. Berlin, 12: 573 (1854); Leskea tamariscella (C. Muell.) Mitt., J. Proc. Linn. Soc., 2: 134 (1859). Autoicous, slender to robust, filmy, yellow-green forming mats, stem without central strand, creeping may be ascending, giving rise to irregular bipinnate branches upto 6 cm long. Paraphyllia numerous, simple filamentous. Stem leaves distant, larger, 0.5 mm long, oblong cordate base with excurrent costa forming long arista. Branch leaves small, dense, erectopatent, ovate lanceolate 0.25 mm long apex acute, margin crenulate. Costa single, ending at the middle. Leaf cells rounded-rhomboid with a single large papilla on both sides of lumen. Sporophyte not seen (Plate 44). Habitat: Rupicolous in evergreen forests, Decidous and scrub forests. Specimen examined: Arappuleeswarar Falls (Kuttar) (850 m), , RHTM 089; Solakkadu (1200 m), , RHTM 111; Kuzhivalavu (1450), , RHTM 121; Periasamykoil Shola (1300 m), , RHTM

64 Family: ENTODONTACEAE Slender to robust, glossy, main stem prostrate, ramifying, irregularly pinnate branches julaceous and terete. Leaf cells elongate, differentiated into alar. Genus: ENTODON Plants yellowish-green, slender to robust, branched; stem leaves close set, slightly decurrent, concave from narrow bases, ovate to ovateoblong, or ovate-lanceolate, obtuse or acute, rarely hair pointed, margin plane or recurved near the base, entire or minutely toothed in the upper part; costa double, short or absent; cells elongate, thin walled, not papillose, basal cells large and strongly thickened, alar cells quadrate, thin walled and hyaline; seta 1-3 cm, reddish or yellowish, when dry twisted; capsule erect, straight or faintly curved; spores rounded, m diagonally. Key to Species: Entodon 1a. Seta yellow, annulus absent E. scariosus 1b. Seta reddish, annulus present 2 2a. Costa absent in both stem and branch leaves E. myurus 2b. Costa present in branch leaves E. flavescens 43. Entodon scariosus Ren. & Card. Entodon scariosus Ren. & Card. in Bull. Soc. R. Bot. Belg., 34(2): 75 (1896). 134

65 Dioicous, yellow green, glossy, stem creeping, upto 3 cm long, stem leaves wide ovate, shortly apiculate, 1.5 mm long and 1 mm wide. Branch leaves small, dense erectopatent, concave, ovate-lanceolate, contracted at base, margin crenulate at top. Costa absent in stem leaves; two short in branch leaves. Leaf cells elongated rhomboidal, basal angle cells lax, quadrate to irregularly rectangular, sporophyte not seen (Plate 45). Habitat: Corticolous in evergreen forests. Specimen Examined: Solakkadu (1200 m), , RHTM Entodon myurus (Hook.) Hamp. Entodon myurus (Hook.) Hamp. in Linnaea, 20: 82 (1847); Pterogonium myurum Hook. in Musci. Exot., 2: 148 (1819); Pterigmadrum myurum (Hook.) Brid. in Bryol. Univ., 2: 176 (1827); Neckera myura (Hook.) Arnott in Mem. Soc. Linn. Paris, 5: 293 (1827); Stereodon gardneri Mitt. in Musci Ind. Or., 107 (1859); Entodon gardneri Mitt. in Par., Index Bryol. Suppl., 108 (1900). Fairly robust, golden green, glossy plants in dense tufts. Main stem creeping, upto 3.5 cm long, branches julaceous when dry. Leaves terete, complanate, dense, erectopatent (appressed to stem when dry), concave, ovate, with broad tip suddenly narrowed into a short point, 1.4 mm long and 0.62 mm wide; margin dentate, crenulate below, reflexed on both sides. Costa absent. Leaf cells narrow rhomboid, 44 6 m becoming shorter and broader ( 25 9 m); cells at basal angles are lax, larger, rectangular to quadrate. Sporophyte on main stem. Perichaetial leaves 135

66 erect, seta erect, red, capsule erect, longly ovate cylindrical, operculum conical, peristome double, normal (Plate 46). Habitat: Corticolous in evergreen forests. Specimen Examined : Semmedu (1220 m), , RHTM Entodon flavescens (Hook.) Jaeg. Entodon flavescens (Hook.) Jaegger, Ber. Senkenberg. Naturf. Ges : 293 (1879); Gangulee, Moss. E. India, 3(8): 1775 (1980); Neckera flavescens Hook., Trans. Linn. Soc. Lond., 9: 314 (1808); Stereodon schwaegricheni Mitt., Musc. Ind. Orient., 108 (1859), S. rubicundus Mitt., Musc. Ind. Orient., 108 (1859); S. griffithii Mitt., ibid., 108 (1859); Entodon rubicundus (Mitt.) A. Jaeger, Ber. Senckenberg. Naturf. Ges., : 285 (1878); Gangulee, Moss. E. India, 3(8): 1781 (1980); Entodon griffithii (Mitt.) A. Jaeger, Ber. Senckenberg. Naturf. Ges., : 293 (1878); E. ramulosus Mitt., Trans. Linn. Soc. Bot. Ser., 2(3): 179 (1891); Cylindrothecium flavescens (Hook.) Paris, Index Bryol. Suppl., 298 (1894); Entodon schwaegrichenii (Mitt.) Broth. in Paris, Index Bryol. Suppl. ed., 2(5): 151 (1906); E. rubrissimus Sak., J. Jap. Bot., 28: 59 (1953). Monoecious, creeping upto 4 cm long, pinnalely branched. Leaves complanate triangular ovate, up to 1.8 mm long and 0.1 mm wide, branch leaves erect to erectopatent, concave, tapering at base, apex acute, margin almost smooth. Costa two short, on stem leaves, absent on branch leaves. Leaf cells linear-rhomboidal. Sporophyte on main branches, seta smooth, erect red, peristome double (Plate 47). 136

67 Habitat: Corticolous in evergreen forests. Specimen examined: Kuzhivalavu (1450), , RHTM 814; ; RHTM 095, RHTM 096. Family: SEMATOPHYLLACEAE Slender to robust plants, in dense tufts, stem creeping or ascending, without a central strand, irregularly or pinnately branched. Leaves ovate, acuminate. Costa short and double. Leaf cells linear rhomboid, smoother, papillate, alar cells large. Sporophyte on main stem. Seta erect, smooth or papillose. Capsules horizontal to inclined. Peristome teeth 2-rowed. Key to Genus: Semetophyllaceae 1a. Peristome teeth distinctly papillose Sematophyllum 1b. Peristome teeth non-papillose 2 2a. Leaves spreading, Ecostate, papillae one or more on lumen Trichostelium 2b. Leaves dense, costa double, papillae absent Trolliella Genus: SEMATOPHYLLUM Plants small to robust, glossy in dense mats; stem creeping, branches crowded, densely foliate; leaves erect to spreading, ovate to oblong-elliptic, obtuse, apiculate, gradually or abruptly long acuminate, sometimes hair pointed, weakly toothed above; costa absent; cells rhombic, alar cells large, oblong inflated, coloured; seta usually elongate, reddish; capsule erect to horizontal, ovoid to oblong; spores small to medium sized. Key to Species: Sematophyllum 1a. Branches shorter, leaves laxer S. phoeniceum 1b. Branches longer, leaves denser S. humile 137

68 46. Sematophyllum phoeniceum (C. Muell.) Fleisch. Sematophyllum phoeniceum (C. Muell.) Fleisch. in Musci Fl. Buitenz., 3: 1266 (1923); Hypnum phoeniceum C. Muell. in Flora, 61: 85 (1878); Rhaphidostegium phoeniceum Jaeg. in Ber. S. Gall. Naturw. Ges., : 485 (1880); Aptychus phoeniceus C. Muell. in Fleisch.: Musci Fl. Buitenz., 3: 1266 (1923) nom. nud. in synon Yellow, glossy, plants forming in thin tufts, stem creeping upto 2-5 cm long, branches short, erect at parallel. Leaves not very dense, erectopatent, appressed imbricate when dry, concave, narrow ovatlanceolate, 1.5 mm long and 0.45 mm wide, apex acute, Margin feebly crenulate at top, irregularly revolute at both the sides. Ecostate, leaf cells linear. Alar cells three in number, large, inflated, ovate-oblong cells at leaf angles, few smaller irregular cells on top. Sporophyte on mainstem, seta erect, capsule erect, ovate-cylinderical, operculum long rostrate, peristome teeth distinctly papillose, double (Plate 48). Habitat : Terricolous in plantations. Specimen Examined: Kuzhivalavu (1450), , RHTM Semetophyllum humile (Mitt.) Broth. Semetophyllum humile (Mitt.) Broth. in Nat. Pfl. ed. 2(11): 431 (1925); Slereodon humilis Mitt. in Musci Ind. Or., 102 (1859); Hypnum humile Harv. in Hool.; Icon. Pl. Rar., 1: 23 (1836) hom. illeg.; Rhaphidostegium humile (Mitt.) Jaeg. in Ber. S. Gall. Naturw. Ges., : 397 (1878). 138

69 Yellow-green, glossy, in tufts, main stem creeping upto 2 cm long, branching pinnately and long. Leaves dense, imbricate, erect (appressed when dry), concave, ovate-lanceolate, mm, apex acute, margin smooth. Ecostate. Leaf cells rhomboid, lower cells showing papillose, alar cells large at extreme angle. Sporophyte on main stem, seta slender, erect, capsule horizontal, oblong, ovate. Peristome teeth. 2-rowed, distinctly papillate (Plate 49). Habitat: Terricolous in plantations. Specimen examined: Semmedu (1220 m), , RHTM 137. Genus: TRICHOSTELIUM Monoicous. Large to slender plants forming mats. Main stem creeping, mostly regularly or irregularly pinnate branched. Leaves often falcate, ovate-lanceolate, long or short acuminate, concave, margin usually dentate above. Ecostate. Leaf cells linear to elliptic, mostly papillose, rarely smooth, alar differentiated by large, inflated cells. Seta slender, long, mostly papillose above. Capsule subcylindric, usually hanging. Peristome normal, double. Operculum long acicular, rostrate. Calyptra cucullate. Key to Species: Trichostelium 1a. Leaf cells pluripapillose T. puntipapillosum 1b. Leaf cells unipapillose T. boschi 139

70 48. Trichostelium punctipapillosum Par. ex Gangulee Trichostelium punctipapillosum Par. ex Gangulee. C. Muell. in Par., Index Bryol, 1314 (1898) nom. nud., Trichostaetium puatipapillosum Par. in ibid. nom. nud. Plant slender, yellow-green, glossy plants in lax patches, creeping upto 10 cm, complanate. Leaves spreading (appressed to stem when dry), concave, ovate-lanceolate, apex narrow subulate, 1.3 mm long and 0.35 mm wide, margin crenulate, by the papillae on cell tips and also revolute in the lower leaf. Ecostate, leaf cells elongate elliptical, with several small papillae on each cell. Alar distinguished by about three large oblong, inflated, hyaline cells with some smaller irregular cells above (Plate 50). Habitat: Terricolous in evergreen forests. Specimen Examined: Kuzhivalavu (1450), ; RHTM Trichostelium boschii (Doz. & Molk) Jaeg. Trichostelium boschii (Doz. & Molk.) Jaeg. in Ber. S. Gall. Naturw. Ges., : 421 (1878); Hypnum boschii Doz. & Molk. in Ann. Sc. Nat. Bot. ser., 3(2): 306 (1844); Hypnum microcarpum Hook. in Icon. Pl. Rar., 1: 23 (1836) hom. illeg., H. brachypelma C. Muell. in Syn., 2: 404 (1851); Stereodon brachypelma (C. Muell.) Mitt. in Musci Ind. Or., 102 (1859); Trichosteleum brachypelma (C. Muell.) Par. in Index Bryol., 656 (1897); T. basilanense Broth. in Philipp. J. Sci., C13: 220 (1918). 140

71 Autoicous, yellow green, glossy, main stem creeping, irregularly pinnate, erect to ascending branches upto 2 cm long. Leaves complanate, spreading upto 1 mm long, concave, elliptic-lancealate, gradually long acuminate, margin smooth to faintly denticulate above, Ecostate. Leaf cell rhomboidal-elliptic with one papilla, alar cells distinct with one row of large oblong cells. Seta slender, erect, capsule horizontal to drooping, small ovate, operculum conic apiculate, peristome double, non-papillose (Plate 51). Habitat: Terricolous in evergreen forests. Specimen examined: Kuzhivalavu (1450), , RHTM 097. Genus: TROLLIELLA Autoicuous, yellow-green to brownish, glossy corticolous plants in low mats, main stem creeping, branching irregularly pinnately. Branches short, attenuate, not complanate. Leaves dense, extectopatent, concave, ovate lanceolate, apex narrow acuminate. Capsule erect to inclined, ovatecylindrical. 50. Trolliella euendostoma Herz. Trolliella euendostoma Herz. in Arm. Bryol., 12: 9-13 (1939). Autoicous, yellow green, semi-sturdy, glossy, forming mats, stem creeping upto 2 cm long, branching irregularly pinnately. Leaves dense, erectopatent upto 1.5 mm long concave, ovate-lanceolate, apex acuminate, finely crenulate only at tip. Costa short, double, unequal. Leaf cells 141

72 rhomboid, alar cells larger, irregularly rectangular, perichaetial leaves narrower, convolute. Seta erect, twisted when dry, capsule erect to inclined. Ovate-cylindrical, operculum short conical. Peristome teeth 2-rowed, non-papillose. Endostome teeth shorter (Plate 52). Habitat: Corticolous in evergreen forests. Specimen examined: Solakkadu (1200 m), , RHTM 031; Sottupparai (1250 m), , RHTM 034; Semmedu (1220 m), , RHTM 043. Family: HYPNACEAE Slender to robust, usually glossy, plants in mats, main stem creeping, with an indistinct central strand. Paraphyllia absent. Leaves ovate, acuminate, sometimes falcato-secund, costa short double or more, leaf cells lenear, rarely papillose. Capsule horizontal. Key to Genus: HYPNACEAE 1a. Leaves distinctly differentiated into stem and branch leaves, symmetrical; capsule inclined to nearly horizontal Ctenidum 1b. Leaves slightly or not differentiated, symmetrical or asymmetrical, capsule inclined or hanging 2 2a. Branches more or less complanate 3 2b. Branches not complanate 4 3a. Leaves in two rows; pseudoparaphyllia foliose Taxiphyllum 3b. Leaves not distinctly in two rows; pseudoparaphyllia filamentous Isopterygium 4a. Leaves falcate, cells narrow linear Hypnum 4b. Leaves sharp, leaf cells broader, rhomboid six sided Vesicularia 142

73 Genus: CTENIDIUM Dioicous or phyllodioicous. Soft, usually slender, sometimes fairly large plants in dense tufts. Stem with central strand, creeping, more or less regularly pinnate branched. Stem and branch leaves differentiated. Leaves lanceolate from a broad, cordate base, acuminate, margin dentate. Costa absent or short double. Leaf cells linear, papillose at cell tips or smooth, alar well differentiated by subquadrate cells. Seta slender, long, smooth. Capsule inclined to horizontal, ovate-cylindrical, mostly curved at base. Operculum conical, apiculate. Calyptra often pilose. Peristome double, hypnoid. 51. Ctenidium lychnites (Mitf.) Broth. Ctenidium lychnites (Mitf.) Broth. in Nat. Pfl., 1(3): 1048 (1909); Stereodon lychnites Mitt. in Musci Ind. Or., 114 (1859); Hyoconium lychniters (Mitt.) Mitt. in Trans. Linn. Soc. Bot. Lond. ser. 2(3): 177 (1899); Hypnum lychniles (Mitt.) C. Muell. in Linnaea, 36: 8 (1869). Dioicous, semi-robust, yellowish to golden green, in dense tufts, main stem creeping upto 3 cm, branching is pinnate. Stem leaves larger, 1 mm long, narrowed into slender, cordate, auriculate base, margin denticulate. Ecostate. Leaf cells linear in lower leaf, alar distinct by hyaline quadraterectangular cells, Seta slender, long, erect, capsule horizontal, cernuate ovate-cylindrical, operculum conic (Plate 53). Habitat: Terricolous in scrub forests. Specimen examined: Solakkadu (1200 m), , RHTM

74 Genus: TAXIPHYLLUM Plants green, soft, glossy, branching irregular, pseudoparaphyllia triangular to lanceolate in outline; leaves of branches and of main stem alike, mostly complanate, leaves spreading in two rows, oblong or sometimes ovate or oblong-lanceolate with short or long acumen, margin faintly toothed, pseudoparaphyllia foliose; costa very short, double and indistinct; cells narrow elongate or rhomboid, near the base thick walled; alar cells not differentiated; seta long; capsule erect to suberect, with a distinct neck, ovoid to oblong-ovoid or cylindric; spores rounded, dark brown. 52. Taxiphyllum maniae (Ren. & Par.) Fleisch. Taxiphyllum maniae (Ren. & Par.) Fleisch. in Musci Fl. Buitenz., 4: 1436 (1923); Isopterygium maniae Ren. & Par. in Rev. Bryol., 29: 84 (1902); Isopterygium taxirameoides C. Muell. in Levier. Rev. Bryol., 34: 55 (1907) nom. nud., fid. Fleisch. Yellow green more or less glossy, creeping upto 4.5 cm leaves widely spreading (though shrunk when dry), ovate lanceolate, narrower, short acuminata; margin slightly serrated at apex, flat, ecostate. Leaf cells narrow rhomboid to linear, more or less narrow papillose at cell tips, basal marginal cells rectangular. Sporophyte not seen (Plate 54). Habitat: Terricolous in semi-evergreen forests. Specimen Examined: Arappuleeswarar (Kuttar) (850 m), , RHTM

75 Genus: ISOPTERYGIUM Plants slender, glossy, flat mats; stem prostrate to ascending, scarcely erect; leaves of branches and main stem alike, complanate, dorsal and ventral leaves obliquely appressed, usually asymmetric, not in distinct rows; leaves spreading in two rows in same plane, ovate-oblong or ovatelanceolate, short or long piliform acumen, margin entire or faintly toothed; costa short or absent; cells narrow prosenchymatous, near the insertion short and thick walled, alar cells not differentiated, pseudoparaphyllia filamentous; seta long, twisted in dried condition; capsule suberect to horizontal, ovoid to oblong-ovoid, operculum convex. 53. Isopterygium albescens (Hook.) A. Jaeger Isopterygium albescens (Hook.) A. Jaeger, Ber. S. Gall. Naturw. Ges., : 433 (1878); Hypnum albescens Hook. in Schwaeger., Sp. Musc. Suppl., 3(1): 226 (1828); Stereodon albescens (Hook.) Mitt., Musci Ind. Orient., 104 (1859). Autoicous, slender, yellow-green, glossy plants in low tufts, main stem creeping upto 2.5 cm, branches pinnate. Leaves spirally arranged, concave, ovate, erectopatent, short or long acuminata, 0.8 mm long and 0.3 mm wide, margin smooth to dentate at top. Ecostate. Leaf cells hyaline, elongated rhomboidal 60 m long and 5 m wide, square alar cells at angle. Seta slender, erect, capsule horizontal to drooping (Plate 55). Habitat: Corticolous in evergreen and deciduous forests. 145

76 Specimen examined: Sottupparai (1250 m), , RHTM 033; Sellur (1200 m), , RHTM 050; Pongaya Shola (1300 m), , RHTM 099; Solakkadu (1200 m), , RHTM 130; Periasamykoil Shola (1300 m), , RHTM 140. Genus: HYPNUM Slender to robust, yellow to bright green, often glossy plants in dense, interwoven mats. Stems with or without central strand, prostrate to ascending. Leaves often strongly falcato-secund to circinate, concave, ovate or oblong-lanceolate. Costa short double to absent. Paraphyllia usually present, often broad, leafy, sometimes branched filamentous. Median leaf cells linear to linear-flexuose, usually smooth. Seta long, smooth. Capsule horizontal to suberect, sometimes cernuous. Annulus usually present. Operculum conic, obtuse to rostrate. Calyptra cucullate, smooth. Peristome perfect hypnoid. 54. Hypnum subimponens Lesq. Hypnum subimponens Lesq. in Trans. Am. Phil. Soc. n. ser., 13: 14 (1865); Stereodon plumifer Mitt. in J. Linn. Soc. Bot., 8: 41 (1864); Hypnum plumiferum (Mitt.) Jacg. in Ber. S. Gall. Naturw. Ges., : 318 (1880). Dioicous, robust, yellow-green, glossy forming dense tufts, main stem creeping upto 2 cm, pinnately branched. Leaves dense, erectopatent with falcato-secund to circinate tips, oblong-lanceolate, mm, apex acuminata, margin dentate at tip. Costa short. Leaf cells linear at lower 146

77 leaf, alar distinguished by rectangular cells. Sporophyte not seen (Plate 56). Habitat: Terricolous in evergreen forests. Specimen examined: Semmedu (1220 m), , RHTM 045. Genus: VESICULARIA Plants yellowish-green, slender to robust; stem elongate, prostrate, simple or branched, mostly regularly pinnate, branches spreading, mostly small and simple; leaves broadly ovate or oblong-lanceolate, with short or long hair like acumen, margin entire except apical part where it is distinctly toothed; costa double, very short or absent; cells ovate or oblong to elongate or rhomboid - six sided, smooth, chlorophyllose; alar cells not differentiated; seta cm long; capsule horizontal to pendulous, shortly ovoid to oblong-ovoid, peristome normal, operculum apiculate or shortly rostrate. Key to Species: Vesicularia 1a. Plants larger, costate V. montagnei 1b. Plants smaller, ecostate V. vesicularis 55. Vesicularia montagnei (Bel.) Broth. Vesicularia montagnei (Bel.) Broth. in Nat. Pfl., 1(3): 1094 (1908); Pterygophyllum montagnei Bel. in Voyag. Ind. Or. Bot., 2(Crypt.) 85 (1834); Hookeria meyeniana Hamp. in Icon. Musc.: 3 (1844); Hypnum montagnei Schimp. in Mont.: Ramon de la Sagra, Hist. Fis. Cuba Bot. Pl. Cell., 9: 530 (1845); H. meyenianum (Hamp.) C. Muell. in Syn., 2: 233 (1851); 147

78 Ectropothecium meyenianum (Hamp.) Jaeg. in Ber. S. Gall. Naturw. Ges., : 268 (1880); E. montagnei (Bel.) Jaeg. in ibid.: 269 (1880); Vesicularia meyeniana (Hamp.) Broth. in Nat. Pfl., 1(3): 1094 (1908). Autoicous, yellow-green, glossy and forming thin mat, main branches irregular, spreading widely upto 2.5 cm long. Leaves erectopatent to spreading, ovate, concave, mm, apex acute, faintly denticulate at top. Costa short double. Leaf cells lax, rhomboid to hexagonal at top, at lower leaf, smooth, chlorophyllose. Sporophyte on main branches, capsule pendulous, gibbous at base, ovate-cylindrical (Plate 57). Habitat: Corticolous in evergreen forests. Specimen examined: Ellakkirai (1280 m), , RHTM 055; , RHTM Vesicularia vesicularis (Schwaegr.) Broth Vesicularia vesicularis (Schwaegr.) Broth., Nat. Pflanzenfam., 1(3): 1094 (1908); Hypnum vesicular Schwaegr., Sp. Musc. Suppl., 2(2): 167 (1827); Pterygophyllum montagnei Bel., Voyag. Ind. Or. Bot., 2: 85 (1834); Hookeria meyeniana Hamp., Icon. Musc., 3 (1844); Hypnum montagnei Schimp. in Montin, Ramon de la Sagra, Hist. Fis. Cuba Bot. Pl. Cell., 9: 530 (1845); H. meyenianum (Hamp.) C. Muell., Synop. Musc. Frond., 2: 233 (1851); Ectropothecium meyenianum (Hamp.) A. Jaeger, Ber. Senckenberg. Naturf. Ges., : 268 (1880); E. montagnei (Bel.) A. Jaeger, ibid., 269 (1880); Vesicularia montagnei (Bel.) Broth. in Engl. & Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam., 1(3): 1094 (1908); Gangulee, Moss. E. India, 3(8):

79 (1980); Vesicularia meyeniana (Hamp.) Broth. in Engl. & Prantl, Nat. Pflanzenfam., 1(3): 1094 (1908). Yellowish-green, creeping, forming in mat, upto 16 cm long, irregular, main branches and secondary branches are pinnately branched, leaves ovate to ovate-oblong, upto 2 cm long, erectopatent when moist, tip acute, smooth margin, faintly denticulate at apex, ecostate, cells rhomboid to hexagonal (Plate 58). Habitat : Corticolous in evergreen forests. Specimen Examined: Semmedu (1220 m), , RHTM 135. Family: BRACHYTHECIACEAE Pleurocarpous, glossy, yellowish green, irregularly branched, stems with a central strand. Leaves often plicate, costate, sometimes strongly concave, alar cells present, cells at median half smooth or with projecting ends, leaf base usually with differentiated or few small alar cells, seta long, rough; capsule erect. Genus: BRACHYTHECIUM Plants yellowish-green, prostrate, creeping, in large loose tufts; leaves heterophyllous, mostly plicate, loosely imbricate to somewhat erect, ovate to broadly triangular, apex acute, sometimes very long-acuminate; costa strong, ends below apex; median cells long or short, elongaterhombic to linear; alar cells distinct with quadrate or rectangular cells; seta rough, sometimes partially or entirely smooth, cm long; capsule 149

80 inclined to horizontal, brownish to reddish-brown; spores rounded, brownish, mm diagonally. 57. Brachythecium salebrosum (Web. & Mohr) B. S. G. Brachythecium salebrosum (Web. & Mohr) B. S. G. in Bryol. Eur., 6: 20 (1??); Hypnum salebrosum Hoffm. ex Web. & Mohr in Bot. Taschenb., 312 (1807); Hypnum plumosum Hoedw. ssp. salebrosum (Web. & Mohr) C. Muell. in Syn., 2: 359 (1851); Brachythecium laevisetum Kindb. in Bull. Torr. Bot. Cl., 17: 278 (1890); Chamberlainia salebrosa (Web. & Mohr) Robins. in Bryologist, 65: 105 (1962). Autoicous, yellow-green forming mats, main stem creeping upto 4 cm with sub-pinnate, erect, to ascendant branches. Leaves terete, small, lanceolate, plicate, up to l.75 mm long and 0.83 mm wide, apex apiculate, margin dentate up to base. Costa single, strong, covering 2 3 of leaf length. Leaf cells elongate rhomboid at tip, basal cells rectangular, alar present, all basal cells are very lax. Sporophyte on main stem. Perichaetial leaves as long as vegetative leaves. Seta erect, long and smooth. Capsule erect, arcuate, oblong-ovate, operculum conical, beak somewhat long (Plate. 59). RHTM 077. Habitat: Corticolous in evergreen forest. Specimen examined: Solakkadu (1200 m), , RHTM 076, 150

81 5.2 PHYTOGEOGRAPHY OF BRYOPSIDA OF THE KOLLI HILLS From the phytogeographical analysis of the mosses with reference to the Kolli hills, it is understood that mosses are familiar, attractive ingredients and an important element for the diverse vegetation present there. It is interesting to note that these mosses play an important role in the terrestrial ecosystems, such as modification of habitat, nutrient cycling, maintenance of nutrient status of the soil and primary production. They provide suitable environment for seed and spore germination and subsequent seedling and sporeling growth for several species of pteridophytes. Some of them also provide refuge to certain hibernating invertebrates. Their matty coverings on branches and boulders form a habitat other smaller plant species. A total of 57 species under 37 genera were identified (Table 5.1). Mosses in the Kolli hills occur in a wide range of natural habitats; soil, rock, bark, rotting wood, dung, animal carcasses and leaf cuticles. Terrestrial mass communities are the most common in the study area. Most of the species are corticolous (Table 5.2, Fig. 3). Fissidens are seen as aquatic or near streams. Species such as Hyophile involuta are living in abundance in termite mounds. Bryum argenteum and Hyophilaa involuta are also found in creeks and crevices of rocks. According to the vegetation types, most of the species (48 species) were found in evergreen forest (Table 5.3, Fig.4). The mosses were distributed almost in all altitudes, ranges from 850 to 1450 m. But occurrence is more in the ranges between 1020 and 1400 (Table 5.4, Fig.5). 151

82 Table 5.1 List of Bryopsida Species in the Kolli Hills S. Genus Species Family 1. Pogonatum P. aloides Polytrichaceae 2. Campylopus Campylopus sps Dicranaceae 3. C. flexuosus 4. C. ericoides 5. Leucobryum L. nilghiriense Leucobryaceae 6. L. mitteni 7. Octoblepharum O. albidium 8. Fissidens F. sylvaticus Fissidentaceae 9. Hyophila H. comosa Pottiaceae 10. H. involuta 11. Oxystegus O. cylindricus 12. Leptodontium L. viticulosoides 13. Funaria F. hygrometrica Funariaceae 14. Physcomitrium Physcomitrium sps 15. Bryum B. argenteum Bryaceae 16. B. capillare 17. B. medianum 18. B. wightii 19. Pyrrhobryum P. spiniforme Rhizogoniaceae 20. Homaliodendron H. flabellatum Neckeraceae 21. H. obtusatum 22. Pinnatella Pinnatella sps 23. Macromitrium M. moorcroftii Orthotrichaceae 24. M. sulcatum 25. Macromitrium sps 26. Drummondia D. stricta 27. Racopilum R. cuspidigerum Racopilaceae 28. R. orthocarpum 152

83 S. Genus Species Family 29. Pterobryopsis P. acuminata Pterobryaceae 30. P. orientalis 31. Symphysodentella S. borii 32. Cryptopapillaria C. fuscescens Meteoriaceae 33. Floribundaria F. armata 34. F. walkeri 35. Aerobryidium A. filamentosum 36. Aerobryum A. speciosum 37. Meteoriopsis M. squarrosa 38. M. reclinata 39. Hypopterygium H. tamarisci Hypoterygiaceae 40. Cyathophorella C. hookeriana Hookeriaceae 41. Cyathoporella sps 42. Thuidium T. tamariscellum Thuidiaceae 43. Entodon E. scariosus Entodontaceae 44. E. myurus 45. E. flavescens 46. Sematophyllum S. phoeniceum Sematophyllaceae 47. S. humile 48. Trichostelium T. punctipapillosum 49. T. boschii 50. Trolliella T. euendostoma 51. Ctenidium C. lychnites Hypnaceae 52. Taxiphyllum T. maniae 53. Isopterygium I. albescens 54. Hypnum H. subimponens 55. Vesicularia V. montagnei 56. V. vesicularis 57. Brachythecium B. salebrosum Brachytheciaceae Genus: 37 Total Species: 57 Family:

84 Table 5.2 Species Occurrence in Different Habitat Types Species Polytrichaceae Terricolous Rupicolous Lignicolous Corticolous Pogonatum aloides + Dicranaceae Campylopus sps + C. flexuosus + C. ericoides + Leucobryaceae Leucobryum nilghiriense + L. mittenii + + Octoblepharum albidium + + Fissidentaceae Fissidens sylvaticus + Pottiaceae Hyophila comosa + + H. involuta + + Oxystegus cylindricus + Leptodontium viticulosoides + Funariaceae Funaria hygrometrica + Physcomitrium sps + Bryaceae Bryum argenteum + + B. capillare + + B. medianum + B. wightii + Rhizogoniaceae Pyrrhobryum spiniforme + 154

85 Species Neckeraceae Terricolous Rupicolous Lignicolous Corticolous Homaliodendron flabellatum + H. obtusatum + Pinnatella sps + Orthotrichaceae Macromitrium moorcroftii + M. sulcatum + + Macromitrium sps + Drummondia stricta + Racopilaceae Racopilum cuspidigerum + R. orthocarpum + Pterobryaceae Pterobryopsis acuminata + P. orientalis + Symphysodentella borii + Meteoriaceae Cryptopapillaria fuscescens + Floribundaria armata + F. walkeri + Aerobryidium filamentosum + Aerobryum speciosum + Meteoriopsis squarrosa + M. reclinata + Hypoterygiaceae Hypopterygium tamarisci + Hookeriaceae Cyathophorella hookeriana + Cyathoporella sps + Thuidiaceae Thuidium tamariscellum + 155

86 Species Terricolous Rupicolous Lignicolous Corticolous Entodontaceae E. scariosus + Entodon myurus + E. flavescens + Sematophyllaceae Sematophyllum phoeniceum + S. humile + Trichostelium punctipapillosum + T. boschii + Trolliella euendostoma + Hypnaceae Ctenidium lychnites + Taxiphyllum maniae + Isopterygium albescens + Hypnum subimponens + Vesicularia montagnei + V. vesicularis + Brachytheciaceae Brachythecium salebrosum + Total

87 Figure 3 Species Occurrence in Different Habitat Types Terri-colous Rupi-colous Ligni-colous Corti-colous 157

88 Table 5.3 Species Occurrence in Different Vegetation Types Species Evergreen Forests Semi- Evergreen Forests Deciduous Forests Degraded/ Scrub Forests Plantations Polytrichaceae Pogonatum aloides + + Dicranaceae Campylopus sps + + C. flexuosus + C. ericoides + Leucobryaceae Leucobryum nilghiriense L. mittenii + Octoblepharum albidium + Fissidentaceae Fissidens sylvaticus + + Pottiaceae Hyophila comosa + + H. involuta Oxystegus cylindricus + Leptodontium viticulosoides + Funariaceae Funaria hygrometrica Physcomitrium sps + Bryaceae Bryum argenteum + + B. capillare + + B. medianum + B. wightii + Rhizogoniaceae Pyrrhobryum spiniforme

89 Species Evergreen Forests Semi- Evergreen Forests Deciduous Forests Degraded/ Scrub Forests Plantations Neckeraceae Homaliodendron flabellatum + H. obtusatum + Pinnatella sps + Orthotrichaceae Macromitrium moorcroftii + M. sulcatum + + Macromitrium sps + Drummondia stricta + Racopilaceae Racopilum cuspidigerum + + R. orthocarpum + Pterobryaceae Pterobryopsis acuminata + P. orientalis + Symphysodentella borii + Meteoriaceae Cryptopapillaria fuscescens + Floribundaria armata + F. walkeri + Aerobryidium filamentosum Aerobryum speciosum + Meteoriopsis squarrosa M. reclinata + Hypoterygiaceae Hypopterygium tamarisci + + Hookeriaceae Cyathophorella hookeriana + Cyathoporella sps + 159

90 Species Evergreen Forests Semi- Evergreen Forests Deciduous Forests Degraded/ Scrub Forests Plantations Thuidiaceae Thuidium tamariscellum Entodontaceae E. scariosus + Entodon myurus + E. flavescens + Sematophyllaceae Sematophyllum phoeniceum + S. humile + Trichostelium punctipapillosum + T. boschii + Trolliella euendostoma + Hypnaceae Ctenidium lychnites + Taxiphyllum maniae + Isopterygium albescens + + Hypnum subimponens + Vesicularia montagnei + V. vesicularis + Brachytheciaceae Brachythecium salebrosum + Total

91 Figure 4 Species Occurrence in Different Vegetation Types Evergreen Semi- Deciduous Scrub Plantations 161

92 Table 5.4 Altitude Range of Moss Plants of Kolli Hills S. Species Attitude Range (m) 1. Pogonatum aloides Campylopus sps C. flexuosus C. ericoides Leucobryum nilghiriense L. mitten Octoblepharum albidium Fissidens sylvaticus Hyophila comosa H. involuta Oxystegus cylindricus Leptodontium viticulosoides Funaria hygrometrica Physcomitrium sps Bryum argenteum B. capillare B. medianum B. wightii Pyrrhobryum spiniforme Homaliodendron flabellatum H. obtusatum Pinnatella sps Macromitrium moorcroftii M. sulcatum Macromitrium sps Drummondia stricta Racopilum cuspidigerum R. orthocarpum

93 S. Species Attitude Range (m) 29. Pterobryopsis acuminata P. orientalis Symphysodentella borii Cryptopapillaria fuscescens Floribundaria armata F. walkeri Aerobryidium filamentosum Aerobryum speciosum Meteoriopsis squarrosa M. reclinata Hypopterygium tamarisci Cyathophorella hookeriana Cyathoporella sps Thuidium tamariscellum Entodon scariosus E. myurus E. flavescens Sematophyllum phoeniceum S. humile Trichostelium punctipapillosum T. boschii Trolliella euendostoma Ctenidium lychnites Taxiphyllum maniae Isopterygium albescens Hypnum subimponens Vesicularia montagnei V. vesicularis Brachythecium salebrosum

94 Chapter 5 Figure 3: Altitude range of Moss Plants of Kolli Hills Mosses 1. Pogonatum aloides 2. Campylopus sps 3. C. flexuosus 4. C. ericoides 5. Leucobryum nilghiriense 6. L. mitteni 7. Octoblepharum albidium 8. Fissidens sylvaticus 9. Hyophila comosa 10. H. involuta 11. Oxystegus cylindricus 12. Leptodontium viticulosoides 13. Funaria hygrometrica 14. Physcomitrium sps 15. Bryum argenteum 16. B. capillare 17. B. medianum 18. B. wightii 19. Pyrrhobryum spiniforme 20. Homaliodendron flabellatum 21. H. obtusatum 22. Pinnatella sps 23. Macromitrium moorcroftii 24. M. sulcatum 25. Macromitrium sps 26. Drummondia stricta 27. Racopilum cuspidigerum 28. R. orthocarpum 29. Pterobryopsis acuminata 30. P. orientalis 31. Symphysodentella borii 32. Cryptopapillaria fuscescens 33. Floribundaria armata 34. F. walkeri 35. Aerobryidium filamentosum 36. Aerobryum speciosum 37. Meteoriopsis squarrosa 38. M. reclinata 39. Hypopterygium tamarisci 40. Cyathophorella hookeriana 41. Cyathoporella sps 42. Thuidium tamariscellum 43. E. scariosus 44. Entodon myurus 45. E. flavescens 46. Sematophyllum phoeniceum 47. S. humile 48. Trichostelium punctipapillosum 49. T. boschii 50. Trolliella euendostoma 51. Ctenidium lychnites 52. Taxiphyllum maniae 53. Isopterygium albescens 54. Hypnum subimponens 55. Vesicularia montagnei 56. V. vesicularis 57. Brachythecium salebrosum 164

95 A total of 57 species have been identified from 37 genera and 20 families. Among the genera 22 are monotypic (single species). There are three genera represented by three species each (Campylopus, Macromitrium and Entodon). There are 11 genera with two species each Bryum has the maximum number of four species (Table 5.1). By a comparative study of this 57 species in reference to several national and regional flora, it is estimated that 19 species were common to Shervaroy hills (Eastern Ghats, Namakkal District, Tamil Nadu) adjacent to Kolli Hills, where 69 moss species were recorded recently by Senthilkumar (2002). Both the hills together have a cumulative of 107 species (Table 5.5, Fig.6). It is observed that 27 species of the Kolli Hills were common to the list of 113 moss species enumerated (Wayanad Hills of Western Ghats) from Kerala by Manju and Madusoodhanan (2005) (Table 5.6, Fig. 7). When compared to the mosses recorded in the Southwestern Ghats by Daniel (2003), out of 112 species enlisted 19 were common to the Kolli hills (Table 5.7, Fig. 8). The following taxa are new records to South India Campylopus ericoides, Drummondia stricta, Floribundaria walkeri, Cyathophorella hookeriana, Sematophyllum phoeniceum and Trolliella euendostoma. 165

96 Table 5.5 List of the Mosses of Kolli Hills Common to Shervaroy Hills S. Genus Species Family 1. Pogonatum P. aloides Polytrichaceae 2. P. flexuosus 3. Leucobryum L. nilghiriense Leucobryaceae 4. Octoblepharum O. albidium 5. Hyophila H. comosa Pottiaceae 6. H. involuta 7. Funaria F. hygrometrica Funariaceae 8. Bryum B. argenteum Bryaceae 9. B. capillare 10. Macromitrium M. moorcroftii Orthotrichaceae 11. M. sulcatum 12. Drummondia D. stricta 13. Racopilum R. cuspidigerum Racopilaceae 14. Pterobryopsis P. acuminata Pterobryaceae 15. Aerobryidium A. filamentosum 16. A. scariosus 17. Sematophyllum S. phoeniceum Sematophyllaceae 18. S. humile 19. Vesicularia V. montagnei Hypnaceae Genus: 13 Total Species: 19 Family:

97 Table 5.6 List of the Mosses of Kolli Hills Common to Wayanad Hills (Kerala) S. Genus Species Family 1. Campylopus C. flexuosus Dicranaceae 2. C. ericoides 3. Octoblepharum O. albidium 4. Hyophila H. involuta Pottiaceae 5. Oxystegus O. cylindricus 6. Funaria F. hygrometrica Funariaceae 7. Bryum B. argenteum Bryaceae 8. B. capillare 9. B. wightii 10. Homaliodendron H. flabellatum Neckeraceae 11. Macromitrium M. moorcroftii Orthotrichaceae 12. M.sulcatum 13. Racopilum R. cuspidigerum Racopilaceae 14. R. orthocarpum 15. Pterobryopsis P. acuminata Pterobryaceae 16. P. orientalis 17. Cryptopapillaria C. fuscescens Meteoriaceae 18. Floribundaria F. walkeri 19. Aerobryum A. speciosum 20. Meteoriopsis M. squarrosa 21. M. reclinata 22. Hypopterygium H. tamarisci Hypoterygiaceae 23. Thuidium T. tamariscellum Thuidiaceae 24. Entodon E. flavescens Entodontaceae 25. Ctenidium C. lychnites 26. Isopterygium I. albescens 27. Vesicularia V. vesicularis Hypnaceae Genus: 20 Total Species: 27 Family:

98 Table 5.7 List of the Mosses of Kolli Hills Common to Southern Western Ghats S. Genus Species Family 1. Pogonatum P. aloides Polytrichaceae 2. Campylopus C. ericoides Dicranaceae 3. Leucobryum L. nilghiriense Leucobryaceae 4. Octoblepharum O. albidium 5. Fissidens F. sylvaticus Fissidentaceae 6. Hyophila H. comosa Pottiaceae 7. H. involuta 8. Bryum B. argenteum Bryaceae 9. B. capillare 10. Pyrrhobryum P. spiniforme Rhizogoniaceae 11. Homaliodendron H. flabellatum Neckeraceae 12. H. obtusatum 13. Macromitrium M. moorcroftii Orthotrichaceae 14. M. sulcatum 15. Racopilum R. cuspidigerum Racopilaceae 16. Floribundaria F. walkeri Meteoriaceae 17. Aerobryidium A. filamentosum 18. Meteoriopsis M. reclinata 19. Sematophyllum S. humile Sematophyllaceae Genus: 15 Total Species: 19 Family:

99 Table 5.8 List of the Mosses Common for All Four Hills S. Genus Species Family 1. Octoblepharum O. albidium Leucobryaceae 2. Hyophila H. involuta Pottiaceae 3. Bryum B. argenteum Bryaceae 4. B. capillare 5. Macromitrium M. moorcroftii Orthotrichaceae 6. M. sulcatum 7. Racopilum R. cuspidigerum Racopilaceae Genus: 5 Total Species: 7 Family: 5 169

100 Figure 6 Figure 7 V. montagnei P. aloides I. albescens C. lychnites C. flexuosus C. ericoides S. humile P. flexuosus V. vesicularis O. albidium S. phoeniceum L. nilghiriense E. flavescens H. involuta T. tamariscellum O. cylindricus A. scariosus O. albidium H. tamarisci F. hygrometrica A. filamentosum P. acuminate Mosses of Kolli Hills Common to Shervaroy Hills H. comosa H. involuta C. fuscescens A. speciosum Mosses of Kolli Hills Common to Wayanad Hills (Kerala) B. argenteum B. capillare R. cuspdigerum F. hygrometrica M. reclinata B. wightii D. stricta B. argenteum M. squarrosa H. flabellatum M. sulcatum M. moorcroftii B. capillare F. walkeri P. orientalis M.sulcatum M. moorcroftii P. acuminate R. orthocarpum R. cuspdigerum 170

101 Figure 8 Figure 9 S. humile P. aloides A. filamentosum C. ericoides M. reclinata L. nilghiriense R. cuspdigerum O. albidium F. walkeri O. albidium M. sulcatum H. involuta R. cuspdigerum Mosses of Kolli Hills Common to Southern Western Ghats F. sylvaticus Mosses Common for All Four Hills M. sulcatum H. comosa M. moorcroftii H. involuta M. moorcroftii B. argenteum H. obtusatum B. argenteum B. capillare H. flabellatum P. spiniforme B. capillare 171

102 Some species are found to be indicators of high degree of habitat degradation: Pogonatum aloides, Hyophila involuta, Funaria hygrometrica and Bryum argenteum. Certain species cannot tolerate change in habitat that are still not modified greatly: Drummondia stricta. Some mosses were found to adapt themselves to all conditions and are commonly found throughout the Kolli Hills: Pogonatum aloides, Campylopus flexuosus, Leucobryum nilghiriense, Hyophila involuta, H. comosa, Funaria hygrometrica, Bryum argenteum, Drummondia stricta, Macromitrium moorcroftii, Racopilum cuspidigerum, etc. Species such as Pogonatum aloides, Campylopus flexuosus, Leucobryum nilghiriense, Hyophila involuta, H. comosa, Funaria hygrometrica, Bryum argenteum, Macromitrium moorcroftii are also found in the Western Ghats. There are only 11 species that are common to all the four hills recently studied (Table 5.8, Fig. 9). 172

103 5.3 ANTIMICROBIAL STUDIES Antibacterial Studies Streak Method The results of various solvent extracts of different mosses on selected test Bacteria has been studied and the results are given in the Tables 5.9 to a) Leucobryum nilghiriense The various solvent extracts of this moss did not show any significant inhibitory effect on most of the bacteria studied by streak method. However, the chloroform extract and ethyl acetate extracts showed partial inhibition on the growth of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae at higher concentrations (50%, 70% and 100%) (Table 5.9). b) Pyrrhobryum spiniforme Among the various solvent extracts of this moss, the chloroform extract at higher concentration (75% and 100%) showed partial inhibition on Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. The highest concentration of ethyl acetate extract at 100% concentration showed inhibitory effect on Bacillus cereus, Streptococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus (Table 5.10). c) Meteoriopsis squarrosa The ethanolic extract of this moss exhibited to have inhibitory effect on a number of bacteria such as Bacillus cereus, Streptococcus faecalis, 173

104 Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. There was partial inhibition at 75% concentration and strong inhibition at 100% concentration. Other extracts did not show significant effect on the test organisms (Table 5.11, Plate 60). d) Thuidium tamariscellum The chloroform extract as well as the ethyl acetate extract of this moss showed notable inhibitory effect on several bacteria. However the effect was observed only at the highest concentration (100%). At this concentration organisms such as Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were inhibited. The ethyl acetate extract however produced inhibitory effect on all the tested bacteria except Pseudomonas aeruginosa at the concentrations of 50%, 75% and 100% (Table 5.12). These results are correlated with the results obtained by Banerjee and Sen (1979) who tested with ethanolic extracts of 52 species of bryophytes and observed the antibacterial activity against 3 gram-positive and 5 gram-negative bacteria. 174

105 Organism Table 5.9 Sensitivity of the various extracts of Leucobryum nilghiriense against bacteria (Streak method) Ethanolic extract (%) Chloroform extract (%) Ethyl acetate extract (%) Aqueous extract (%) C C C C Gram-positive bacteria: Bacillus cereus Streptococcus faecalis Staphylococcus aureus Gram-negative bacteria: Escherichia coli Proteus vulgaris Enterobacter aerogenes Salmonella typhi Klebsiella pneumoniae Pseudomonas aeruginosa C : Control 3+ : Excessive growth (no inhibition) 2+ : Moderate growth (partial inhibition) 1+ : Trace growth (strong inhibition) 175

106 Organism Table 5.10 Sensitivity of the various extract of Pyrrhobryum spiriforme against bacteria (Streak method) Ethanolic extract (%) Chloroform extract (%) Ethyl acetate extract (%) Aqueous extract (%) C C C C Gram-positive bacteria: Bacillus cereus Streptococcus faecalis Staphylococcus aureus Gram-negative bacteria: Escherichia coli Proteus vulgaris Enterobacter aerogenes Salmonella typhi Klebsiella pneumoniae Pseudomonas aeruginosa C : Control 3+ : Excessive growth (no inhibition) 2+ : Moderate growth (partial inhibition) 1+ : Trace growth (strong inhibition) 176

107 Organism Table 5.11 Sensitivity of the various extract of Meteoriopsis squarrosa against bacteria (Streak method) Ethanolic extract (%) Chloroform extract (%) Ethyl acetate extract (%) Aqueous extract (%) C C C C Gram-positive bacteria: Bacillus cereus Streptococcus faecalis Staphylococcus aureus Gram-negative bacteria: Escherichia coli Proteus vulgaris Enterobacter aerogenes Salmonella typhi Klebsiella pneumoniae Pseudomonas aeruginosa C : Control 3+ : Excessive growth (no inhibition) 2+ : Moderate growth (partial inhibition) 1+ : Trace growth (strong inhibition) 177

108 Organism Table 5.12 Sensitivity of the various extract of Thuidium tamariscellum against bacteria (Streak method) Ethanolic extract (%) Chloroform extract (%) Ethyl acetate extract (%) Aqueous extract (%) C C C C Gram-positive bacteria: Bacillus cereus Streptococcus faecalis Staphylococcus aureus Gram-negative bacteria: Escherichia coli Proteus vulgaris Enterobacter aerogenes Salmonella typhi Klebsiella pneumoniae Pseudomonas aeruginosa C : Control 3+ : Excessive growth (no inhibition) 2+ : Moderate growth (partial inhibition) 1+ : Trace growth (strong inhibition) 178

109 Disc Diffusion Method a) Leucobryum nilghiriense The antibacterial activity of various extracts of Leucobryum nilghiriense against the test bacteria by disc diffusion method has shown in the Table It is observed from the result that the chloroform extract was found to have inhibitory effect against Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the zone of inhibition was from 1.5 and 2.0 mm respectively. However ethyl acetate extract showed inhibitory effect against Bacillus cereus in addition to the above said two bacteria, with almost same diameter of inhibition zone. b) Pyrrhobryum spiniforme The various solvent extracts of this plant were found to be inhibitory against the growth of several bacteria. The chloroform as well as ethyl acetate extracts showed partial inhibition against Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Maximum zone of inhibition (2.5 mm) was produced by the chloroform extract on Escherichia coli. The aqueous extract of this plant was found to have inhibitory effect on Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Table 5.14). 179

110 c) Meteoriopsis squarrosa The ethanolic extract of this plant was effective on almost all bacteria screened for antimicrobial activity. Inhibition zone was observed in the agar plates of all tested bacteria except Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus vulgaris and Salmonella typhi. Maximum zone (3.4 cm) was observed on Escherichia coli. This observation is in agreement with the report of earlier workers Singha et al. (2006), who reported that the alcoholic extract of Plagiochasma appendiculatum (Marchantiales) showed significant antibacterial activity against 11 bacterial including Staphylococcus aureus, Proteus mirabilis and Salmonella typhimurium. The chloroform extract showed inhibitory effect on gram-negative bacteria only and the zone of inhibition was comparatively lesser than the ethyl acetate extract (Table 5.15, Plate 61). d) Thuidium tamariscellum Ethanolic extract of this moss was found to have inhibitory effect on all the tested bacteria except Salmonella typhi. The zone of inhibition ranged from 0.4 to 2.5 mm. Maximum zone was observed on Bacillus cereus and Enterobacter aerogenes. Chloroform extract showed little effect on a few bacteria (Table 5.16). 180

111 Table 5.13 Antimicrobial activity of Leucobryum nilghiriense against various bacteria (Disc diffusion method) Organism Ethyl acetate extract (30 g/ disc) Diameter of inhibition zone in mm (Mean*) Chloroform extract (30 g/ disc) Ethanolic extract (30 g/ disc) Aqueous extract (30 g/ disc) Standard # antibiotic Gram-positive bacteria: Bacillus cereus Streptococcus faecalis 5.0 Staphylococcus aureus 4.0 Gram-negative bacteria: Escherichia coli Proteus vulgaris 4.5 Enterobacter aerogenes 4.2 Salmonella typhi 2.4 Klebsiella pneumoniae 5.0 Pseudomonas aeruginosa * : Mean of triplicate : Standard Deviation # : Gentamycin (Hi-media) : Absence of measurable inhibitory action

112 Table 5.14 Antimicrobial activity of Pyrrhobryum spiriforme against various bacteria (Disc diffusion method) Organism Ethyl acetate extract (30 g/ disc) Diameter of inhibition zone in mm (Mean*) Chloroform extract (30 g/ disc) Ethanolic extract (30 g/ disc) Aqueous extract (30 g/ disc) Standard # antibiotic Gram-positive bacteria: Bacillus cereus Streptococcus faecalis 5.0 Staphylococcus aureus Gram-negative bacteria: Escherichia coli Proteus vulgaris 4.5 Enterobacter aerogenes 4.2 Salmonella typhi 2.4 Klebsiella pneumoniae Pseudomonas aeruginosa * : Mean of triplicate : Standard Deviation # : Gentamycin (Hi-media) : Absence of measurable inhibitory action 182

113 Table 5.15 Antimicrobial activity of Meteoriopsis squarrosa against various bacteria (Disc diffusion method) Organism Ethyl acetate extract (30 g/ disc) Diameter of inhibition zone in mm (Mean*) Chloroform extract (30 g/ disc) Ethanolic extract (30 g/ disc) Aqueous extract (30 g/ disc) Standard # antibiotic Gram-positive bacteria: Bacillus cereus Streptococcus faecalis Staphylococcus aureus Gram-negative bacteria: Escherichia coli Proteus vulgaris Enterobacter aerogenes Salmonella typhi 3.4 Klebsiella pneumoniae Pseudomonas aeruginosa * : Mean of triplicate : Standard Deviation # : Gentamycin (Hi-media) : Absence of measurable inhibitory action 183

114 Table 5.16 Antimicrobial activity of Thuidium tamariscellum against various bacteria (Disc diffusion method) Organism Ethyl acetate extract (30 g/ disc) Diameter of inhibition zone in mm (Mean*) Chloroform extract (30 g/ disc) Ethanolic extract (30 g/ disc) Aqueous extract (30 g/ disc) Standard # antibiotic Gram-positive bacteria: Bacillus cereus Streptococcus faecalis Staphylococcus aureus 4.0 Gram-negative bacteria: Escherichia coli Proteus vulgaris 4.5 Enterobacter aerogenes Salmonella typhi 2.4 Klebsiella pneumoniae Pseudomonas aeruginosa * : Mean of triplicate : Standard Deviation # : Gentamycin (Hi-media) : Absence of measurable inhibitory action 184

115 Agar Well Diffusion Method a) Leucobryum nilghiriense The various solvent extracts of this moss did not show any significance result against most of the tested bacteria. However the ethyl acetate extract produced little effect on Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the diameter of inhibition zones were very less (Table 5.17) b) Pyrrhobryum spiniforme The ethyl acetate extract showed inhibitory effect on Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Maximum zone (3.2 mm) was observed in the agar plate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The chloroform extract produced little effect on Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Table 5.18). c) Meteoriopsis squarrosa Various solvent extracts of this moss have shown significant result by agar well diffusion method against the tested bacteria. The ethanolic extract in particular showed inhibitory effect on almost all bacteria and the zone of inhibition were found to be better than the other plants. In Escherichia coli the diameter of the inhibition zone was higher (2.5 mm) than the standard antibiotic (4.1 mm) which clearly reveals that this result is highly significant, and this extract could be used to control Escherichia coli after purification of the active compound. Similarly this extract was also found to be effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa 185

116 also since it has produced greater zone of inhibition (4.4 mm) which is closer to the standard value (5.1 mm). Chloroform extract as well as ethanolic extract were also found to have inhibitory effect on the tested bacteria to some extent. The ethanolic extract produced inhibition zone against Pseudomonas aeruginosa where the diameter of the inhibition zone in the experimental as well as in the standard was found to be same (5.1 mm) (Table 5.19, Plate 62). d) Thuidium tamariscellum The ethanolic extract was found to possess inhibitory effect on almost all bacteria. The inhibitory effect is significant on Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae where the diameter of the inhibition zone was higher than the standard. It was 4.2 mm against the standard 4.1 mm and 5.6 mm against the standard 5.2 mm respectively (Table 5.20). Similar observations were made by Semra Ulhan et al. (2006) while studying the antibacterial activities of Palustriella commutate against 11 bacteria, 1 yeast and 8 moulds. 186

117 Table 5.17 Antimicrobial activity of Leucobryum nilghiriense against various bacteria (Agar Well diffusion method) Organism Ethyl acetate extract (30 g/ ml) Diameter of inhibition zone in mm (Mean*) Chloroform extract (30 g/ ml) Ethanolic extract (30 g/ ml) Aqueous extract (30 g/ml) Standard # antibiotic Gram-positive bacteria: Bacillus cereus 5.2 Streptococcus faecalis 4.0 Staphylococcus aureus 5.0 Gram-negative bacteria: Escherichia coli Proteus vulgaris 4.7 Enterobacter aerogenes 4.4 Salmonella typhi 4.8 Klebsiella pneumoniae 5.2 Pseudomonas aeruginosa * : Mean of triplicate : Standard Deviation # : Gentamycin (Hi-media) : Absence of measurable inhibitory action 187

118 Table 5.18 Antimicrobial activity of Pyrrhobryum spiriforme against various bacteria (Agar Well diffusion method) Organism Ethyl acetate extract (30 g/ ml) Diameter of inhibition zone in mm (Mean*) Chloroform extract (30 g/ ml) Ethanolic extract (30 g/ ml) Aqueous extract (30 g/ ml) Standard # antibiotic Gram-positive bacteria: Bacillus cereus 5.2 Streptococcus faecalis 4.0 Staphylococcus aureus Gram-negative bacteria: Escherichia coli Proteus vulgaris 4.7 Enterobacter aerogenes Salmonella typhi 2.8 Klebsiella pneumoniae 5.2 Pseudomonas aeruginosa * : Mean of triplicate : Standard Deviation # : Gentamycin (Hi-media) : Absence of measurable inhibitory action 188

119 Table 5.19 Antimicrobial activity of Meteoriopsis squarrosa against various bacteria (Agar Well diffusion method) Organism Ethyl acetate extract (30 g/ ml) Diameter of inhibition zone in mm (Mean*) Chloroform extract (30 g/ ml) Ethanolic extract (30 g/ ml) Aqueous extract (30 g/ ml) Standard # antibiotic Gram-positive bacteria: Bacillus cereus Streptococcus faecalis Staphylococcus aureus Gram-negative bacteria: Escherichia coli Proteus vulgaris Enterobacter aerogenes Salmonella typhi Klebsiella pneumoniae Pseudomonas aeruginosa * : Mean of triplicate : Standard Deviation # : Gentamycin (Hi-media) : Absence of measurable inhibitory action 189

120 Table 5.20 Antimicrobial activity of Thuidium tamariscellum against various bacteria (Agar Well diffusion method) Organism Ethyl acetate extract (30 g/ ml) Diameter of inhibition zone in mm (Mean*) Chloroform extract (30 g/ ml) Ethanolic extract (30 g/ ml) Aqueous extract (30 g/ ml) Standard # antibiotic Gram-positive bacteria: Bacillus cereus Streptococcus faecalis Staphylococcus aureus Gram-negative bacteria: Escherichia coli Proteus vulgaris Enterobacter aerogenes Salmonella typhi 2.8 Klebsiella pneumoniae Pseudomonas aeruginosa * : Mean of triplicate : Standard Deviation # : Gentamycin (Hi-media) : Absence of measurable inhibitory action 190

121 5.3.2 Antifungal Studies Streak Plate Method Plants such as Leucobryum nilghiriense and Pyrrhobryum spiriforme did not show any significant inhibitory effect against any of the fungal organism screened for sensitivity test. However Meteoriopsis squarrosa showed moderate inhibitory effect on Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and Geotricum candidum. Similarly Thuidium tamariscellum did not show any inhibitory effect against all the fungal organisms except Aspergillus flavus whole it showed moderate inhibition against fungus alone (Tables 5.21 to 5.24, Plate 63). 191

122 Organism Table 5.21 Sensitivity of the various extracts of Leucobryum nilghiriense against various fungi (Streak method) Ethanolic extract (%) Chloroform extract (%) Ethyl acetate extract (%) Aqueous extract (%) C C C C Aspergillus niger Aspergillus flavus Aspergillus parasiticus Aspergillus fumigatus Candida albicans Geotricum candidum Microsporium gypseum C : Control 3+ : Excessive growth (no inhibition) 2+ : Moderate growth (partial inhibition) 1+ : Trace growth (strong inhibition) 192

123 Organism Table 5.22 Sensitivity of the various extracts of Pyrrhobryum spiriforme against various fungi (Streak method) Ethanolic extract (%) Chloroform extract (%) Ethyl acetate extract (%) Aqueous extract (%) C C C C Aspergillus niger Aspergillus flavus Aspergillus parasiticus Aspergillus fumigatus Candida albicans Geotricum candidum Microsporium gypseum C : Control 3+ : Excessive growth (no inhibition) 2+ : Moderate growth (partial inhibition) 1+ : Trace growth (strong inhibition) 193

124 Organism Table 5.23 Sensitivity of the various extracts of Meteoriopsis squarrosa against various fungi (Streak method) Ethanolic extract (%) Chloroform extract (%) Ethyl acetate extract (%) Aqueous extract (%) C C C C Aspergillus niger Aspergillus flavus Aspergillus parasiticus Aspergillus fumigatus Candida albicans Geotricum candidum Microsporium gypseum C : Control 3+ : Excessive growth (no inhibition) 2+ : Moderate growth (partial inhibition) 1+ : Trace growth (strong inhibition) 194

125 Organism Table 5.24 Sensitivity of the various extracts of Thuidium tamariscellum against various fungi (Streak method) Ethanolic extract (%) Chloroform extract (%) Ethyl acetate extract (%) Aqueous extract (%) C C C C Aspergillus niger Aspergillus flavus Aspergillus parasiticus Aspergillus fumigatus Candida albicans Geotricum candidum Microsporium gypseum C : Control 3+ : Excessive growth (no inhibition) 2+ : Moderate growth (partial inhibition) 1+ : Trace growth (strong inhibition) 195

126 Disc Diffusion Method Mosses such as Leucobryum nilghiriense, Pyrrhobryum spiriforme did not show any inhibitory effect on the fungal organisms tested. However the ethanolic extract of Meteoriopsis squarrosa showed inhibitory effect on Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and Candida albicans (Plate 64a). The diameter of the inhibition zone is only lesser than the standard antibiotic. The moss Thuidium tamariscellum also produced only less effect against the tested fungi. The ethanolic extract inhibited the growth of Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and Geotricum candidum. The diameter of inhibition zone, however, was insignificant in all these plates (Table 5.25 to 5.28). This work confirm the previous report of Sabovljevica et al. (2006), who established that ethanolic extract of moss plant Bryum argenteum inhibited the growth of Aspergillus niger, Penicillium ochrochloron, Candida albicans and Trichophyton mentagrophyes. 196

127 Table 5.25 Antifungal activity of various extracts of Leucobryum nilghiriense against various fungi (Disc diffusion method) Organism Ethyl acetate extract (30 g/ disc) Diameter of inhibition zone in mm (Mean*) Chloroform extract (30 g/ disc) Ethanolic extract (30 g/ disc) Aqueous extract (30 g/ disc) Standard # antibiotic (30 g/ disc) Aspergillus niger Aspergillus flavus 5.4 Aspergillus parasiticus 4.5 Aspergillus fumigatus 7.2 Candida albicans 8.4 Geotricum candidum 8.0 Microsporium gypseum 6.5 * : Mean of triplicate : Standard Deviation # : Nystatin : Absence of measurable inhibitory action 197

128 Table 5.26 Antifungal activity of various extracts of Pyrrhobryum spiriforme against various fungi (Disc diffusion method) Organism Ethyl acetate extract (30 g/ disc) Diameter of inhibition zone in mm (Mean*) Chloroform extract (30 g/ disc) Ethanolic extract (30 g/ disc) Aqueous extract (30 g/ disc) Standard # antibiotic (30 g/ disc) Aspergillus niger Aspergillus flavus 5.4 Aspergillus parasiticus 4.5 Aspergillus fumigatus 7.2 Candida albicans 8.4 Geotricum candidum 8.0 Microsporium gypseum 6.5 * : Mean of triplicate : Standard Deviation # : Nystatin : Absence of measurable inhibitory action 198

129 Table 5.27 Antifungal activity of various extracts of Meteoriopsis squarrosa against various fungi (Disc diffusion method) Organism Ethyl acetate extract (30 g/ disc) Diameter of inhibition zone in mm (Mean*) Chloroform extract (30 g/ disc) Ethanolic extract (30 g/ disc) Aqueous extract (30 g/ disc) Standard # antibiotic (30 g/ disc) Aspergillus niger Aspergillus flavus Aspergillus parasiticus 4.5 Aspergillus fumigatus 7.2 Candida albicans Geotricum candidum 8.0 Microsporium gypseum 6.5 * : Mean of triplicate : Standard Deviation # : Nystatin : Absence of measurable inhibitory action 199

130 Table 5.28 Antifungal activity of various extracts of Thuidium tamariscellum against various fungi (Disc diffusion method) Organism Ethyl acetate extract (30 g/ disc) Diameter of inhibition zone in mm (Mean*) Chloroform extract (30 g/ disc) Ethanolic extract (30 g/ disc) Aqueous extract (30 g/ disc) Standard # antibiotic (30 g/ disc) Aspergillus niger Aspergillus flavus Aspergillus parasiticus Aspergillus fumigatus 7.2 Candida albicans 8.4 Geotricum candidum Microsporium gypseum 6.5 * : Mean of triplicate : Standard Deviation # : Nystatin : Absence of measurable inhibitory action 200

131 Agar Well Diffusion Method Antifungal activity of various solvent extracts of test mosses against various fungi by agar well diffusion method has revealed that only the ethanolic extract of all the mosses showed some notable effect, on Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and Geotricum candidum. The ethanolic extract of Meteoriopsis squarrosa showed significant effect on Aspergillus flavus and the diameter of the inhibition zone was greater (6.2 mm) than the standard antibiotic (5.9 mm). Similar type of result was observed in Thuidium tamariscellum where the ethanolic extract produced greater zone of inhibition (4.8 mm) against the standard antibiotic (5.9 mm) which is of greater significance. The other extracts did not show any effect on most of the test organism (Tables 5.29 to 5.32, Plate 64b). Similar type of work was previously done by Bodade et al. (2008), who reported that the ethanolic, acetone and chloroformic extract of Plagiochasma appendiculatum and Bryum argenteum caused growth inhibition of several fungi such as Aspergillus niger. 201

132 Table 5.29 Antifungal activity of various extracts of Leucobryum nilghiriense against various fungi (Agar well diffusion method) Organism Ethyl acetate extract 10 mg/ml Diameter of inhibition zone in mm (Mean*) Chloroform extract 10 mg/ml Ethanolic extract 10 mg/ml Aqueous extract 10 mg/ml Standard # antibiotic 10 mg/ml Aspergillus niger Aspergillus flavus Aspergillus parasiticus 6.5 Aspergillus fumigatus 5.0 Candida albicans 4.2 Geotricum candidum Microsporium gypseum 8.5 * : Mean of triplicate : Standard Deviation # : Griseofulvin : Absence of measurable inhibitory action 202

133 Table 5.30 Antifungal activity of various extracts of Pyrrhobryum spiriforme against various fungi (Agar well diffusion method) Organism Ethyl acetate extract 10 mg/ml Diameter of inhibition zone in mm (Mean*) Chloroform extract 10 mg/ml Ethanolic extract 10 mg/ml Aqueous extract 10 mg/ml Standard # antibiotic 10 mg/ml Aspergillus niger Aspergillus flavus Aspergillus parasiticus 6.5 Aspergillus fumigatus 5.0 Candida albicans 4.2 Geotricum candidum Microsporium gypseum 8.5 * : Mean of triplicate : Standard Deviation # : Griseofulvin : Absence of measurable inhibitory action 203

134 Table 5.31 Antifungal activity of various extracts of Meteoriopsis squarrosa against various fungi (Agar well diffusion method) Organism Ethyl acetate extract 10 mg/ml Diameter of inhibition zone in mm (Mean*) Chloroform extract 10 mg/ml Ethanolic extract 10 mg/ml Aqueous extract 10 mg/ml Standard # antibiotic 10 mg/ml Aspergillus niger Aspergillus flavus Aspergillus parasiticus 6.5 Aspergillus fumigatus 5.0 Candida albicans 4.2 Geotricum candidum Microsporium gypseum 8.5 * : Mean of triplicate : Standard Deviation # : Griseofulvin : Absence of measurable inhibitory action 204

135 Table 5.32 Antifungal activity of various extracts of Thuidium tamariscellum against various fungi (Agar well diffusion method) Organism Ethyl acetate extract 10 mg/ml Diameter of inhibition zone in mm (Mean*) Chloroform extract 10 mg/ml Ethanolic extract 10 mg/ml Aqueous extract 10 mg/ml Standard # antibiotic 10 mg/ml Aspergillus niger Aspergillus flavus Aspergillus parasiticus Aspergillus fumigatus Candida albicans Geotricum candidum Microsporium gypseum * : Mean of triplicate : Standard Deviation # : Griseofulvin : Absence of measurable inhibitory action 205

136 5.4 PHYTOCHEMICAL STUDIES The phytochemical study involves the qualitative analysis of ethanolic extract of the moss plant Meteoriopsis squarrosa, since it has shown more inhibitory actions against both bacteria and fungi when compared with all other solvent extracts of the four plants chosen for antimicrobial studies. The various components present in the ethanolic extracts of the detected by the UV-Vis, FTIR, 1 H and 13 C-NMR and GC-MS are shown in the following Figures and Tables 5.33 and

137 Spectrum Name: MET-E Figure 10 ACIC St. Joseph's College (Autonomous) Tiruchirappalli Date: UV spectrum Scan Speed : nm/min Slit Width : m Date Created : Mon Jun 26 10:08: Instrument Model : Lambda 35 Date Inverval : nm 207

138 Spectrum Name: MET-E Figure 11 ACIC St. Joseph's College (Autonomous) Tiruchirappalli Date: FTIR spectrum 208