Life Sciences Leaflets ISSN 2277-4297(Print) FREE DOWNLOAD 0976–1098(Online) DISTRIBUTION OF BRYOPHYTES IN MALNAD REGIONS OF CHIKMAGALUR DISTRICT, KARNATAKA, THE WESTERN GHATS ARUNA K.B. AND KRISHNAPPA M.* DEPARTMENT OF PG STUDIES AND RESEARCH IN APPLIED BOTANY, KUVEMPU UNIVERSITY, JNANA SAHYADRI, SHANKARAGHATTA-577 451 (DISTRICT SHIMOGA, KARNATAKA – INDIA). Corresponding author’s e-mail: krishnappam4281@gmail.com & bryoaruna@gmail.com Received on: 6th Dec 2013 ABSTRACT: The forests canopy in malnad regions of the Western Ghats favours the Revised on: 10th Dec 2013 Accepted on: 15th Dec 2013 luxuriant growth of flowering plants, medicinal plants, orchids, lichens, pteriodophytes and bryophytes. We conducted the study of bryophyte distribution in different types of forests during June 2010 to March 2012 in the malnad regions of Chikmagalur district, Karnataka. A total of 62 species of Published on: 1st March 2014 Volume No. Online & Print 49 (2014) Page No. 65 to 88 bryophytes belonging to 44 genera and 30 families, of these, mosses comprise 46 species, liverworts 14 species and two species of hornworts were documented. The present study reveals that Bryaceae, Meteoriaceae, Fissidentaceae and Hypnaceae are dominant families in the study area. Bryum coronatum, B. plumosum, B. pseudotriquetrum, Campylopus flexuosus, Hyophila involuta, Fissidens sps., Barbula indica, Pterobryopsis sps., Isopterygium sps., Asterella khasiana, Reboulia hemisphaerica, and Fossombronia indica are commonly distributed in study area. Soil Life Sciences Leaflets is an international open access print & e journal, peer reviewed, worldwide abstract listed, published every month with ISSN, RNI Freemembership, downloads and access. microhabitat represents well distribution of bryophytes compare to other microhabitat in non-forest areas, grasslands and acacia plantations. Contrary to this, wood is having well bryophyte distribution in forest areas. There is no available data on bryophytes of malnad regions of Chikmagalur district. So this preliminary baseline data gives their documentation, distribution and species richness. It helps to thrive light on future research. http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/ PEER-REVIEWED Page | 65 Life Sciences Leaflets ISSN 2277-4297(Print) FREE DOWNLOAD 0976–1098(Online) KEYWORDS: Malnad, Western Ghats, Bryophytes, Musci, Liverworts, Hornworts, Microhabitat, Macrohabitat. INTRODUCTION: The Western Ghats of India is one of the 34 hot spots of biodiversity in the world (Conservation international, 2005) and is encompassed amongst eight of the hottest ‘Hot Spots’ on the earth (Verma and Srivastava, 2011). The Western Ghats is the major source of water shade due to the southern monsoon filled with water and soaked by the Ghats’ hill ranges (Verma and Srivastava, 2011). The Deccan plateau of Karnataka state is divided into malnad and maidan regions. The Ghats with evergreen and semievergreen forests constitute the core of the malnad (Ramachandra et al., 2004). Malnad region of Chikmagalur district includes forests and high altitude grass lands governed by Karnataka state forest department. The forests of malnad region are evergreen not only due to monsoon but also due to the mossy effect of a group of green land plants commonly referred as bryophytes. Over five million hectares of pristine tropical forests are disturbed and transformed into agricultural land each year (Achard et al., 2002) and the majority of remaining tropical forests undergo frequent disturbance by human activities, such as timber extraction and agriculture (Ariyanti, 2008). Continues habitat disturbances such as road constructions, road extensions, cuttings of road side trees etc. cause great loss of plant diversity; is myriad. Eventhough, studies of bryophytes are less and neglected compared to other fauna and flora. As bryophytes are substrate specific, their ecological niche is nothing but a world within a world. Bryophytes are diverse and a distinct group of primitive plants (Mishler, 2001) with about 25,000 species distributed over the world, making in the second largest group of land plants (Shaw and Renzaglia, 2004) and these bryophytes can be further classified into three main classes viz. Liverworts, Hornworts and Mosses (Mishler and Churchill, 1984; Buck and Goffinet, 2000; Crum, 2001). The most important features of the group are how the embryophytes evolved from these lower plants. Bryophytes grow on a wide range of substrates. They grow on logs, mud walls, tiled roofs which grow closely packed together in mats or cushions on soil (terricolous), growing as epiphytes on barks of trees (corticolous), on leaves (foliicolous or epiphyllous), on rocks (rupicolous), on stones (saxicolous), on fallen logs (lignicolous), river banks and road sides are common sights. Our knowledge on the taxonomy and distribution of bryophytes are far from adequate and still relies on the work done during the last 20th and early 21st centuries. So far, 2489 taxa of bryophytes recorded from India, comprising 1786 species in 355 genera of mosses, 675 species in 121 genera of liverworts and 25 species in six genera of hornworts. 340 species as endemic of which 269 species are of mosses, 67 are of liverworts and 4 are of hornworts. (Dandotiya et al., 2011). http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/ PEER-REVIEWED Page | 66 Life Sciences Leaflets FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print) 0976–1098(Online) STUDY AREA: The study was conducted in two taluks of malnad regions namely Sringeri (13°25'29" N, 75°15'45" E, elevation 2202ft) and Koppa (13°31'07" N, 75°17'57"E, elevation 2476ft) taluks of Chikmagalur District of Karntaka (Fig. 1). Most of the area can be regarded as ‘hilly region’ (malnad means male = hill, nadu = area) and ‘forest’ which includes forests and high altitude grass lands governed by Karnataka state forest department. It includes several types of forests such as evergreen forest, semi evergreen forest, pristine shola vegetations, scrubby forests, grassland and also areca plantation, paddy fields and acacia plantation are found commonly. The season of the annual rain is during June to October. Thus humidity varies from 55% during dry months to 99% during monsoon months. Annual rainfall measured during last 10 years is in the range 4000 – 6000mm. The mean daily maximum temperature between 22.8°C (July) and 29.1°C (April) and mean daily minimum temperature between 13.2°C (Jan) and 19.8°C (May). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Random sampling method was carried out in each study sites during June 2010 to March 2012. For our convenience the study site was divided into seven macro habitats, they were (1) Shola like vegetation (2) Evergreen forest (3) Semi-evergreen forest (4) Grassland (5) Scrubby forest (6) Acacia plantation (7) Home-based environments. Each macro habitat was further divided into five micro habitats such as Soil (terricolous), rock (rupicolous), tree barks (corticolous), on leaves (foliicolous) and dead logs (lignicolous). Identification of the specimens was based on the gametophytic and sporophytic characters using the standard manuals and by referring the literatures (Kashyap, 1929-1932; Chopra, 1975; Gangulee, 1985; Nair et al., 2005, Satisha 2007). Identification of substrate tree species by referring the floras (Gamble, 2006; Balakrishna Gowda, 2004).The evaluation of the taxonomical status is following TROPICOS in most of the cases. A critical judgment of possible miss identification was not executed and will be subject to future studies. Voucher herbarium specimens of all the bryophyte were preserved in the Department of Applied Botany, Kuvempu University, Shankaraghatta, Shivamogga Dist. Karnataka. RESULTS: In the present study, we have collected 1711 specimens of bryophyte species. Our study revealed that 62 species of bryophytes belonging to 44 genera and 30 families. Of these, mosses comprise 46 species belonging to 31 genera and 20 families, liverworts comprise 14 species, 13 genera and nine families and hornworts two species, two genera belonging to a family (Table 1). http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/ PEER-REVIEWED Page | 67 Life Sciences Leaflets ISSN 2277-4297(Print) FREE DOWNLOAD 0976–1098(Online) Documentation and Distribution of Bryophytes: Class 1: Hepaticae (Liverworts) Aytoniaceae 1. Asterella khasiana (Griff.) Grolle. Khumbu Himal 1(4): 267. 1966. Habitat: Terricolous; on soil and soil cutting, usually found on road sides associated with Fissidens sps., Philonotis sps., Targionia hypophylla, Reboulia hemisphaerica in evergreen and semi evergreen forests, plantations and home-based environments. Specimens examined: Kigga, Narasimha parvata, Near Sirimane and Maghebailu waterfalls, Kotegudda. Distribution: It was earlier recorded from Darjeeling, Sikkim, Assam, Manipur, Meghalaya, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Chembra hills, Nilgiri hills, Madurai, Kodaikanal, Ootacamund, Palni hills, Nepal and China, W. Ghats, Himachal Pradesh, Eravikulam National Park, Kerala, Nepal and China. 2. Reboulia hemisphaerica (L.) Raddi. Opusc. Sci. 2(6):357. 1818. Habitat: Terricolous; on soil and soil cutting, road sides associated with Fissidens sps., Philonotis sps., Targionia hypophylla, Asterella khasiana in evergreen and semi evergreen forests, plantations and homebased environments. Specimens examined: Kigga, Narasimha parvata, Kotegudda, Nemmar, Gangamola, Sujigudda, Hariharapura. Distribution: It is widely distributed in south India (Chennai, Nilgiri, Idduki district of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Palni hills), Mussoorie, Dalhousie, Shimla, Kulu, Mount Abu, Kashmir, Darjeeling, Khasia hills, Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh, Pachmarhi, Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Nepal, China, Japan, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Korea, New Zealand, Australia, Europe, North And South America and Java. Fossombroniaceae 3. Fossombronia indica Stephani. Sp. Hepat. 6:73. 1917. Habitat: Terricolous; on soil cuttings in grassland, evergreen and semi evergreen forests. This species also found in road side’s soil cuttings of semi evergreen forests. Specimens examined: Narasimha parvata, Sujigudda. Distribution: Chembra hills of Wayanad, Mangalore of Karnataka state, Silent valley National Park of Kerala, Maharashtra. Geocalycaceae 4. Chiloscyphus sp. Habitat: Terricolous; on soil cuttings in evergreen and semi evergreen forests Specimens examined: Kigga, Narasimha parvata, Sirimane and Maghebailu water falls region, Sujigudda. http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/ PEER-REVIEWED Page | 68 Life Sciences Leaflets FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print) 0976–1098(Online) Lejeuneaceae 5. Cheilolejeunea sp. Habitat: Foliicolous; on leaves in evergreen forests. Leaves of Hopea canarensis, Hopea ponga, Syzygium caryophyllatum, S.cumini. Specimens examined: Kigga, Narasimha parvata, Kotegudda, Sujigudda. 6. Lopholejeunea subfusca (Nees) Schiffner. Bot. Jahrb. Syst. 23:593. 1897. Habitat: Corticolous; on base of main trunk in evergreen and semi evergreen forests. It is found in trees such as Hopea canarensis, Hopea ponga, Syzygium caryophyllatum, S.cumini, Terminalia paniculata, T. bellerica. Specimens examined: Kigga, Narasimha parvata, Kotegudda. Distribution: Chennai, Kodaikanal, Kanyakumari dist., W. Ghats, Muthukuzhivayal, Eastern Himalaya, Kerala, Silent valley of Wayanad, Tamil Nadu, Thiruvananthapuram, Karnataka, Andaman Islands, W. Bengal, Meghalaya, Sikkim, Sri Lanka, China, Taiwan, Japan, Madagascar, New Guinea, Philippines, Sumatra and Thailand. 7. Spruceanthus semirepandus. (Nees) Verd. Ann. Bryol., Suppl. 4:153. 1934. Habitat: Corticolous in shola like vegetations; rupicolous, on rocks associated with other leafy liverworts in evergreen and semi evergreen forests Specimens examined: Narasimha parvata, Kotegudda, Sujigudda. Distribution: Kodaikanal, Kanyakumari dist., Muthukuzhivayal, Kerala, Karnataka, Malabar, Tamil Nadu, Nilgiri hills, Tamil Nadu, W. Himalaya, Sikkim, Khasia hills, Meghalaya, Darjeeling, W. Ghats, Eastern Himalayas, Sri Lanka, China, Philippines and Taiwan. Marchantiaceae 8. Dumortiera hirsuta (Sw.) Nees. Fl. Bras. Enum. Pl. 1:307. 1833. Habitat: Corticolous, Terricolous, rupicolous; commonly found in shady moist areas of water sources, on submerged rocks, on exposed roots from water sources, wet areas of forests in evergreen, semi evergreen forests and shola like vegetations. Specimens examined: Near Sirimane and Maghebailu waterfalls. Distribution: Nilgiri hills, Palni hills, Chennai, W. Ghats, Kanyakumari dist., Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Shimla, Mussoorie, Assam, Pachmarhi, Madhya Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Kumaon and Outer Himalaya, Ravi valley, Eravikulam National Park Kerala, High altitude areas of Wayanad, Kakkayam, Vellarimala in Kozhikode and Aralam Kannur state, Nagaland, Nepal, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, Europe, New Zealand, Africa, North and South America. Pallaviciniaceae 9. Pallavicinia lyellii (Hook.) Gray. Nat. Arr. Brit. Pl.1:685, 775. 1821. http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/ PEER-REVIEWED Page | 69 Life Sciences Leaflets FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print) 0976–1098(Online) Habitat: terricolous, rupicolous; on soil cuttings and on wet rocks in evergreen and semi evergreen forests. Specimens examined: Kotegudda, Sujigudda. Distribution: Assam, Gauhati, Shillong, Pachmarhi, Kerala, Karnataka, Sri Lanka, Europe, Cuba, Brazil, Java, Singapore, Philippines, Japan, New Zealand, Africa and America. Porellaceae 10. Porella campylophylla (Lehm. & Lindenb.) Trevis. Mem. Reale Ist. Lombardo Sci., Ser. 3, Cl. Sci. Mat. 4:408. 1877. Habitat: Corticolous, rupicolous; on tree trunks and on rocks in evergreen, semi evergreen forests and shola like vegetations. It is found on trees such as Hopea canarensis, H. ponga, Syzygium caryophyllatum, S.cumini etc. Specimens examined: Kotegudda, Sujigudda. Distribution: North West Himalaya, Uttarakhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Darjeeling, Kumaon, Assam, Sikkim, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Madurai, Shembaganur. Ricciaceae 11. Riccia fluitans L. Sp. Pl. 1139. 1753. Habitat: Terricolous; in wet lands, near ponds and streams, on soil in semi evergreen forests. It is commonly distributed during rainy season. Specimens examined: Kigga, Narasimha parvata, Kotegudda, Nemmar, Sujigudda. Distribution: Garhwal, Kashmir, Bombay, Assam, Himalayas, Kumaon, Pachmarhi, Tamil Nadu, Nilgiri, Chennai, Mount Abu, Himachal Pradesh, W. Ghats, Tirunelveli dist., Malaysia, Taiwan, Korea, Java, New Zealand, Europe, Nepal, Japan, China and South and North America. 12. Riccia frostii Austin. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club. 6:17. 1875. Habitat: Terricolous; it is commonly found during rainy season in marshy places, bricks of stones in moist places semi evergreen forests. Specimens examined: Kigga, Sujigudda. Distribution: Tholpetty range, Kakkayam forests of Kozhikode dist., Tamil Nadu, Coimbatore, Kashmir, Guwahati, Lucknow, Gujarat, Allahabad, Bihar, Manipur, W. Bengal, Banks of Godawari river, Bangladesh, Pakistan, North and South America, Turkey, Africa and Europe. Targioniaceae 13. Cyathodium cavernarum Kunze. Nov. Stirp. Pug.6:18. 1834. Habitat: Corticolous, rupicolous, lignicolous, terricolous; It is commonly found in moist areas; on base of tree trunks, on soil, wet rocks, concrete and muddy walls, surprisingly throne waste cloths in moist places in evergreen and semi evergreen forests. It is commonly found in acaia planatations and home based envirnments during rainy season http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/ PEER-REVIEWED Page | 70 Life Sciences Leaflets FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print) 0976–1098(Online) Specimens examined: Kigga, Narasimha parvata, Kotegudda, Sujigudda, near Sirimane waterfalls. Distribution: Kerala, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttaranchal, Sikkim, Assam, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Myanmar, Cuba, Java, Mexico, Africa and America. 14. Targionia hypophylla L. Sp. Pl. 1136. 1753. Habitat: Terricolous, rupicolous; on soil cuttings and moist and shady regions near roadsides in evergreen and semi evergreen forests. Associated with Philonotis sps., Reboulia hemisphaerica, Fissidens sps., etc., Specimens examined: Kigga, Narasimha parvata, Nemmar, Sujigudda. Distribution: Chennai, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Mount Abu, West Himalaya, Mussoorie, Darjeeling, Meghalaya, Pachmarhi, Punjab, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Shimla, Sikkim, Chirapunji, Khasi hills, Himachal Pradesh. Japan, Korea, China, Taiwan, Europe, Australia and North & South America. Class 2: Anthocerotae (Hornworts) Anthocerotaceae 15. Anthoceros crispulus (Mont.) Douin. Rev. Bryol.32: 27. 1905. Habitat: Terricolous; on soil in semievergreen forests, earth cuttings near plantations and home-based enviroments and in grasslands. Specimens examined: Kigga, Kotegudda, Suji gudda, Addagadde, Hariharapura Distribution: Kodaikanal, Dodabetta, Ootacamund, Shembaganur, West Himalaya, East Himalaya, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Khandala, Kodaikanal, Perumalmalai, Ooty, Naduvattam. Sri Lanka, Japan, Malaysia, Korea, Europe and United States of America. 16. Phaeoceros laevis (L.) Prosk. Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 78: 347. 1951. Habitat: Terricolous; on soil and soil cuttings areas, on submerged rocks in semi evergreen forests and grasslands. Specimens examined: Kigga, Narasimha parvata, Kotegudda. Distribution: Darjeeling, East Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Meghalaya, Punjab, Rajasthan, Mahrashtra, Soojippara and Chembra hills, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Eastern and Western Himalaya, Nilgiris, Ootacamund, Kodaikanal, W. Ghats,Shembaganur, Kanyakumari dist., Himachal Pradesh. Class 3: Musci (Mosses) Bartramiaceae 17. Philonotis fontana (Hedw.) Brid. Bryol. Univ. 2:18.1827. Habitat: Terricolous; on soil and soil cutting in semi evergreen and evergreen forests. Specimens examined: Kigga, Narasimha parvata, Suji gudda, Kotegudda. Distribution: Darjeeling, Sikkim, Manipur, Garhwal, Kumaon, Kangra, Kedarnath, Jaunsar , Shimla , Kashmir , Hazara , Palni hills, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Kanyakumari dist, Naduvattum. China, Japan, Korea, http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/ PEER-REVIEWED Page | 71 Life Sciences Leaflets FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print) 0976–1098(Online) Iran, Tibet, Taiwan, Philippines, Europe, Central and South Africa, Central & South America and New Zealand. 18. Philonotis hastata (Duby) Wijk & Margad. Taxon 8:74. 1959. Habitat: Corticolous, terricolous, rupicolous, saxicolous; on soil and rocky patches in home-based environments, semi evergreen and evergreen forests. It is common species in home-based environments (garden soil, muddy walls, flower plots) associated with Hyophila involuta, Fissidens sps. It is also found as epiphytic on tree trunks of Erythrina indica, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Syzygium cumini in rainy season. Specimens examined: Kigga, Narasimhaparvata, Suji gudda, Kotegudda, Nemmar. Distribution: Khandala, W. Himalaya, Kerala, Calcutta, Assam , Sikkim, E. Himalaya, Palni hills, Kanyakumari dist., Western Ghats, Manipur, South Western Ghats. Sri Lanka, Java, Thailand, Bolivia, Philippines, Japan, Chile, Taiwan, Oceanic Island, Peru, Venezuela, Africa, South America, Australia. Brachytheciaceae 19. Brachythecium buchananii (Hook.) A. Jaeger. Ber. Thätigk. St. Gallischen Naturwiss. Ges. 1876– 77:341 (Gen. Sp. Musc. 2:1159). 1878. Habitat: Corticolous, Terricolous, rupicolous, saxicolous; on soil and rocky in home-based environments, semi evergreen and evergreen forests. It is also found as epiphytic on tree trunks, or on short branches of Gordonia obtusa and other trees. Specimens examined: Narasimhaparvata, Kotegudda, Nemmar. Distribution: Darjeeling, Kumaon, Tungnath Nainital, Manipur, Khasia hills Naga hills, Himachal Pradesh, Mussoorie, Garhwal, Nilgiri hills, Meghalaya, Tamil Nadu. Nepal, Bhutan, China, Japan, Korea, Myanmar, Pakistan, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Philippines. 20. Rhynchostegium herbaceum (Mitt.) A. Jaeger. Ber. Thätigk. St. Gallischen Naturwiss. Ges.1876–77: 368 (Gen. Sp. Musc. 2: 434). 1878. Habitat: Corticolous, rupicolous; on tree trunks, branches of trees and on rocks in shola like vegetations, evergreen and semi evergreen forests, and associated with Pterobryopsis sps., Meteoriopsis sps. It is found in trees such as Holigarna arnottiana, Hopea canarensis, Mastixia arborea, Mimusops elengi. Specimens examined: Narasimha parvata, Kotegudda, Nemmar. Distribution: Sikkim, Darjeeling, Arunachal Pradesh, Khasia hills, Naga hills, Mussoorie, Dehradun, Guptakashi, Binsar and Sri Lanka. Bryaceae 21. Bryum argenteum Hedw. Sp. Musc. Frond. 181–182. 1801. Habitat: Terricolous, rupicolous; on moist soil and on rocks associated with Hyophila involuta, Bryum coronatum in evergreen and semi evergreen forests and grasslands. It is a common species in study area. Specimens examined: Kigga, Narasimha parvata, Nemmar, Sujigudda, Kotegudda. http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/ PEER-REVIEWED Page | 72 Life Sciences Leaflets FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print) 0976–1098(Online) Distribution: Manipur, Eastern Ghats of Orissa, Kumaon, Himalayas, Kerala, Anamalai hills, China, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Taiwan, Thailand, Madagascar, America, Africa and Europe. 22. Bryum coronatum Schwägr. Sp. Musc. Frond., Suppl. 1(2):103–104. 1816. Habitat: Terricolous, rupicolous; on sandy soil, walls and on rocks associated with Bryum argenteum, Hyophila involuta, Funaria hygrometrica in home-base environments and semi evergreen forests. Specimens examined: Kigga, Narasimha parvata, Sirimane, Maghebailu, Kotegudda, Sujigudda, Nemmar, Hariharapura. Distribution: It is common species in study area. It is widely distributed in the India. Sikkim, Manipur, Darjeeling, Rajasthan, Calcutta, Howrah, Orissa (Cuttack, Puri, Koratput), Western Ghats, Maramalmalai, Kanyakumari dist, Tirunelveli dist., Mundanthurai, China, Philippines, Japan, Brazil, Java, Taiwan, Thailand, Australia, Africa. A cosmopolitan species in tropical to warm temperate regions of the world. 23. Bryum plumosum Dozy & Molk. Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot., sér. 3, 2:301. 1844. Habitat: Terricolous, rupicolous; on moist soil and on submerged rocks in evergreen, grasslands and semi evergreen forests. Specimens examined: Kigga, Narasimha parvata, Kotegudda, Nemmar. Distribution: Upper Assam, Manipur, Calcutta & Howrah, Chhotanagpur, Orissa, E.Himalaya, Mussoorie, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Sri Lanka, China, Japan, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Philippines, Taiwan, Australia and New Caledonia. 24. Bryum pseudotriquetrum (Hedw.) G. Gaertn., B. Mey. & Scherb. Oekon. Fl. Wetterau 3(2):102. 1802. Habitat: Terricolous, corticolous, and rupicolous; on trees trunks such as Cocos nucifera, Zanthoxylum rhetsa, Hopea sps., branches of trees and on rocks in evergreen, semi evergreen forests, grasslands and plantations. It is commonly distributed in the study area. Specimens examined: Kigga, Narasimha parvata, Kotegudda, Nemmar. Distribution: Common in study area. Sikkim, W. Himalaya, Kashmir, Kumaon, Kerala, Kedarnath. Nepal, Korea, Colombia, Venezuela, Europe, Australia, Africa and Antartica. 25. Bryum wightii Mitt. J. Proc. Linn. Soc., Bot., Suppl.1:74. 1859. Habitat: Corticolous, rupicolous, terricolous; on tree trunks associated with are Porella campylophylla, Pterobryopsis sps., branches of trees such as Spondias pinnata, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Mimusops elengi, Syzygium cumini, Hopea sps., and on rocks in shola like vegetations, evergreen and semi evergreen forests. Specimens examined: Kigga, Narasimha parvata, Sirimane and Maghebailu waterfalls, Sujigudda. Distribution: This is an Indo-Sri Lankan Species. Mahabaleshwar, Nilgiri hills, Palni hills, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Kannur district, Kodaikanal, Maharashtra. http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/ PEER-REVIEWED Page | 73 Life Sciences Leaflets ISSN 2277-4297(Print) FREE DOWNLOAD 0976–1098(Online) Calymperaceae 26. Calymperes afzelii Sw. Jahrb. Gewächsk. 1:3. 1818. Habitat: Corticolous, lignicolous; on tree trunks, dead logs, and rhizomes of some pteridophytes in semi evergreen forests. It is found in trees such as Diospyros ebenum, Garcinia morella. It is common species in study area. Specimens examined: Nemmar, Sujigudda, Kotegudda. Distribution: Agasthyamalai peak (W. Himalaya), Tinnevelly, Kattulum. 27. Calymperes erosum Müll. Hal. Linnaea 21:182. 1848. Habitat: Corticolous, lignicolous; on tree trunks associated with Octoblepharum albidum, branches of trees semi evergreen forests. It is found in trees such as Dichapetalum gelonioides, Garcinia morella, Gordonia obtusa, Hopea canarensis, Leea indica, Ligustrum gamblei, Mesua nagassarium, Myristica dactyloides, Olea dioica, Syzygium caryophyllatum. Specimens examined: Kigga, Narasimha parvata, Nemmar, Kotegudda. Distribution: Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu. Dicranaceae 28. Campylopus ericoides (Griff.) A. Jaeger. Ber. Thätigk. St. Gallischen Naturwiss. Ges.1870–71:424 (Gen. Sp. Musc. 1:128). 1872. Habitat: Rupicolous, terricolous; on rocks along with Bryum sps., Hyophila involuta and also on soil cutting in grasslands. Specimens examined: Narasimha parvata, Kotegudda, Sujigudda. Distribution: Darjeeling, Khasia hills, Manipur, Kerala, Nilgiri, Kodaikanal, Meghamali, Palni hills, Tamil Nadu, Meghalaya, West Bengal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Java and Philippines. 29. Campylopus flexuosus (Hedw.) Brid. Muscol. Recent. Suppl. 4:71. 1819 [1818]. Habitat: Rupicolous, terricolous; on rocks and soil in grasslands. Specimens examined: Narasimha parvata, Kotegudda, Sujigudda. Distribution: Kerala (Eravikulam National Park), Eastern Ghats (Shervaroy hills), North India (Western Himalayas), China, East Nepal, Algeria, Abyssinia, Madagascar, New Zealand, Oceania and Siberia. Ditrichaceae 30. Garckea flexuosa (Griff.) Margad. & Nork. J. Bryol. 7:440. 1973. Habitat: Terricolous, corticolous, rupicolous; on soil and edges of earth cuttings, trunks of trees and on rocks in shola like vegetations, evergreen and semi evergreen forests. It is found in trees such as Syzygium cumini, Leea indica. Specimens examined: Kigga, Narasimha parvata, Kotegudda, Sujigudda. http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/ PEER-REVIEWED Page | 74 Life Sciences Leaflets FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print) 0976–1098(Online) Distribution: It was earlier reported from South India (Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka), North-East India (West Bengal, Darjeeling, Khasi hills, Tripura), Eastern Himalaya, Central India, Andaman Islands, Tirunelveli dist., Western Ghats and Sri Lanka. Entodontaceae 31. Entodon flavescens (Hook.) A. Jaeger. Ber. Thätigk. St. Gallischen Naturwiss. Ges. 1876–77: 293 (Gen. Sp. Musc. 2: 359). 1878. Habitat: Corticolous, rupicolous, lignicolous; on tree trunks, fallen logs and on rocks in evergreen and semi evergreen forests. It is widely distributed in shade region of evergreen forests and on trees such as Dichapetalum gelonioides, Hopea canarensis, Lophopetalum wightianum, Poeciloneuron indicum, Syzygium caryophyllatum. Specimens examined: Kotegudda, Sujigudda. Distribution: It was repoted in South India, North- East India, (Darjeeling, Mussoorie, Assam, Khasi hills, Sikkim, Yamnotri), Bhutan, Nepal, Korea, Japan, Philippines, Yunnan and Eastern Siberia. 32. Entodon plicatus Müll. Hal. Linnaea 18:706.1844 [1845]. Habitat: Corticolous; on tree trunks, branches of trees in evergreen and semi evergreen forests. It is found on trees such as Hopea canarensis, Litsea floribunda, Mastixia arborea, Olea dioica, Persea macrantha, Poeciloneuron indicum, Syzygium caryophyllatum. Specimens examined; Narasimha parvata, Kotegudda, Sujigudda. Distribution: Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Khasia hills, Chhotanagpur, Orissa (Koraput), Kumaon Himalayas, Nanda Devi, Way to Pindari, Nilgiri, Palni, china, Myanmar, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Philippines. Fissidentaceae 33. Fissidens asperisetus Sande Lac. Verh. Kon. Ned. Akad. Wetensch., Afd. Natuurk. 13:2. pl. 1: b. 1872. Habitat: Terricolous; on soil cuttings and also muddy and concrete walls in home- based environments, semi evergreen and evergreen forests. It is a common species in Kotegudda and Narasimhaparvata. Specimens examined: Narasimha parvata, Kotegudda, Sujigudda. Distribution: This is South-East Asiatic Species, earlier reported from South India (Tamil Nadu, Kerala), Andaman Islands, Srilanka, Java, Philippines. 34. Fissidens ceylonensis Dozy & Molk. Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot., sér. 3, 2: 304. 1844. Habitat: Corticolous, rupicolous, lignicolous, terricolous; this species is widely distributed in all study sites and all micro and macro habitats. On soil, soil cuttings, rocks and stones, broken walls, roots of trees in evergreen, semi evergreen forests, home-based environments. It is found on trees such as Cocos nucifera, Zanthoxylum rhetsa, Hopea sps. Antidesma menasu, Calophyllum apetalum, Gordonia obtusa, Myristica dactyloides, Olea dioica, Persea macrantha, Syzygium cumini. http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/ PEER-REVIEWED Page | 75 Life Sciences Leaflets FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print) 0976–1098(Online) Specimens examined: Kigga, Narasimha parvata, Kotegudda, Nemmar,Sujigudda. Distribution: Common in the study area. This species was earlier reported from South India (Kerala, Tamil Nadu), North-East India (Darjeeling, Himalaya, Sikkim, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal) Sri Lanka, Borneo, Iran, Java, Malaysia, Nepal, New Zealand, Philippines, Sumatra, Thailand, Vietnam and Yunnan. 35. Fissidens crenulatus Mitt. J. Proc. Linn. Soc., Bot., Suppl. 1:140. 1859. Habitat: Terricolous, lignicolous; on soil cuttings and moist soil, on termite mounts in semi evergreen forests. Specimens examined: Narasimha parvata, Kotegudda, Near Maghebailu waterfalls. Distribution: An Indo-Pacific species distributed in South India (Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Western Ghats of Kanyakumari) North-East India (Orissa), Myanmar and Nepal. 36. Fissidens zollingeri Mont. Ann. Sci. Nat., Bot., sér. 3, 4:114. 1845. Habitat: Terricolous, Lignicolous; on soil cutting, road side cutting soil and also on fallen logs in semi evergreen forests. Specimens examined: Kotegudda, Nemmar, Sujigudda. Distribution: It was earlier reported from South India (Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka), Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Fiji, Java, Malaysia, New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Sumatra and Vietnam. Funariaceae 37. Funaria hygrometrica Hedw. Sp. Musc. Frond. 172. 1801. Habitat: Terricolous, rupicolous; on moist soil, rocks and brick walls associated with some mosses such as Bryum coronatum, Bryum argenteum, Hyophila involuta in home based environments, shola like vegetations and semi evergreen forests. Specimens examined: Kigga, Narasimha parvata, Kotegudda, Nemmar, Hariharapura. Distribution: A cosmopolitan species distributed in South India (Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka), NorthEast (Himalayas, Kashmir, Manipur, Naga Hills, Orissa), Sri Lanka, China, Japan, Korea, Mynamar, New Zealand, Taiwan, Siberia, Europe, Tibet, North and South America, Africa, Australia and Oceania. Hylocomiaceae 38. Macrothamnium macrocarpum (Reinw. & Hornsch.) M. Fleisch. Hedwigia 44:308. 1905. Habitat: Corticolous; on tree trunks, branches of trees, basal part of tree in shola like vegetations, Semi evergreen forests and evergreen forests. It is found in trees such as Hopea canarensis, Mastixia arborea, Mimusops elengi, Antidesma menasu, Calophyllum apetalum, Gordonia obtusa, Myristica dactyloides, Olea dioica, Persea macrantha, Syzygium cumini. Specimens examined: Kigga, Narasimha parvata, Kotegudda, Sujigudda. Distribution: It is a widespread Indo-Pacific species, distributed in South India (Tamil Nadu: Nilgiri hills, Palni hills, Kerala), North-East India (Khasi, Kumaon, Sikkim), Sri Lanka, Java, Thailand, Borneo, Yunnan, Japan, Hawaii, Myanmar, Pacific Ocean Islands, Taiwan and Philippines. http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/ PEER-REVIEWED Page | 76 Life Sciences Leaflets ISSN 2277-4297(Print) FREE DOWNLOAD 0976–1098(Online) Hypnaceae 39. Isopterygium albescens (Hook.) A. Jaeger. Ber. Thätigk. St. Gallischen Naturwiss. Ges. 1876–77: 433 (Gen. Sp. Musc. 2:1251). 1878. Habitat: Corticolous, lignicolous; on barks, branches of trees in shola like vegetations, evergreen and semi evergreen forests. It is also found in Ganoderma sps. Specimens examined: Narasimha parvata, Sujigudda. Distribution: It was earlier reported from South India (Tamil Nadu: Nilgiri hills, Palni hills, Kerala), North-East India (Khasi hills), Sri Lanka, Japan, Myanmar, Sigapore, Thailand, New Zealand and Philippines. 40. Isopterygium sp. Habitat: Terricolous; on ground surface, shady region of semi evergreen forest and shola like vegetations. Specimens examined: Narasimha parvata, Kotegudda, Sujigudda, Near Sirimane Waterfalls. 41. Taxiphyllum taxirameum (Mitt.) M. Fleisch. Musci Buitenzorg 4: 1435.1922 [1923]. Habitat: Rupicolous, terricolous, lignicolous; Common in shaded sites on rocks, soil, fallen logs in evergreen forests, semi evergreen forests and grasslands. Specimens examined: Narasimha parvata, Kotegudda, Sujigudda, Hariharapura. Distribution: this is widely distributed in the tropics and earlier reported from South India (Tamil Nadu: Palni; Karnataka: Coorg, Kerala) North-East India (Simla, Mussoorie, Nainital) Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Java, Philippines, Taiwan, Korea, Japan and Australia. 42. Vesicularia reticulata (Dozy & Molk.) Broth. Nat. Pflanzenfam. I(3):1094.1908. Habitat: Rupicolous; It is rare in distributed on rocks near wetlands adjacent to rivers and streams in semi evergreen and evergreen forests. Specimens examined: Near Maghebailu and Sirimane water falls, Narasimha parvata. Distribution: Sikkim, Khasi hills, Assam (Mismari), South India; Singapore, Sumatra, Indonesia, Celebes, Philippines. Leucobryaceae 43. Octoblepharum albidum Hedw. Sp. Musc. Frond. 50. 1801. Habitat: Corticolous, rupicolous, lignicolous, terricolous; it is well distributed species in diverse habitats such as tree trunks, branches, fallen logs, on soil and rocks in evergreen, semievergreen, shola like vegetations, acacia plantations and scrubby vegetation. Specimens examined: Kigga, Narasimha parvata, Kotegudda, Nemmar, Sujigudda, Hariharapura, Near Maghebailu and Sirimane water falls. Distribution: It is common species in the study area. It has earlier reported from South India (Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka), North-East India (Kumaon, Sikkim), Sri Lanka, Philippines, China, North and South America, Australia, Africa, Madagascar, Indomalayan region and Yunnan. http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/ PEER-REVIEWED Page | 77 Life Sciences Leaflets FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print) 0976–1098(Online) Meteoriaceae 44. Aerobryopsis longissima (Dozy & Molk.) M. Fleisch. Hedwigia 44: 305. 1905. Habitat: Corticolous; Tree bark in Semi evergreen forest and Scrubby forest. Trees such as Callicarpa tomentosa, Canarium strictum, Dillenia pentagyna, Gordonia obtusa, Holigarna arnottiana, Ixora sp., Ligustrum gamblei, Ziziphus rugosa are common substrates. Specimens examined: Narasimha parvata, Suji gudda, Kotegudda. Distribution: It is distributed in South India (Tamil Nadu, Palni hills; Karnataka: Coorg), East India (Sikkim), Sri Lanka, China, Caroline Islands, Indian Archeipelago, Madagascar, Malacca, New Guinea, Philippines, Pacific Ocean Islands, Sumatra, Taiwan, Australia and Yunnan. 45. Floribundaria walkeri (Renauld & Cardot) Broth. Nat. Pflanzenfam. I (3): 822. 1906. Habitat: Corticolous, rupicolous; on tree trunks and on rocky patches in shola like vegetations, evergreen and semi evergreen forests. Specimens examined: Kigga, Narasimha parvata, Kotegudda, Hariharapura, Near Maghebailu and Sirimane waterfalls. Distribution: It is an Indian Endemic Species; distributed in Eastern Himalaya, West Bengal and Kerala. 46. Meteoriopsis reclinata (Müll. Hal.) M. Fleisch. Nat. Pflanzenfam. 1(3): 826. 1906. Habitat: Corticolous, lignicolous; it is well distributed in study area on tree trunks and branches of trees in coffee and acacia plantations, shola like vegetations, evergreen and semi evergreen forests. It is found in trees such as Hopea canarensis, Mimusops elengi, Ligustrum gamblei, Coffea robusta, C. arabica, Acacia auriculiformis, Syzygium cumini. Specimens examined: Sirimane, Narasimha parvata, Kotegudda, Nemmar. Distribution: It widely distributed in the study area. It was earlier recorded from South India (Tamil Nadu: Nilgiri hills, Palni hills, Thirunelveli; Karnataka: Coorg; Kerala) North-East India (Mussoorie, Kumaon, Bihar, Meghalaya, Sikkim) Sri Lanka, China, Japan, Indonesia, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, New Guinea, Sumatra and Australia. 47. Meteoriopsis squarrosa (Hook. ex Harv.) M. Fleisch. Nat.Pflanzenfam. 1(3): 826.1906. Habitat: Corticolous, rupicolous; It is a prostrating moss on tree trunks, branches of trees and on rocks in evergreen, semi evergreen forests and shola like vegetations. It is found in trees such as Antidesma menasu, Euonymus dichotomus, Gordonia obtusa, Myristica dactyloides, Olea dioica. Specimens examined: Kigga, Narasimha parvata, Kotegudda, Sujigudda, Nemmar, Sirimane and Maghebailu waterfalls. Distribution: It is commonly distributed in the study area. It was earlier recorded from South India (Tamil Nadu: Nilgiri hills, Palni hills, Thirunelveli; Karnataka: Coorg; Kerala) North-East India (Sikkim, Darjeeling, Himalaya, Arunachal Pradesh, Khasi hills, Manipur), Sri Lanka, Nepal Bhutan, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, New Guinea, Sumatra, Java, Philippines, Taiwan and Yunnan. http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/ PEER-REVIEWED Page | 78 Life Sciences Leaflets FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print) 0976–1098(Online) 48. Papillaria crocea (Hampe) A. Jaeger. Ber. Thätigk. St. Gallischen Naturwiss. Ges. 1875–76:267 (Gen. Sp. Musc. 2: 171). 1877. Habitat: Corticolous; It is a hanging moss on branches of trees in semi evergreen forests. It is found in trees such as Hopea canarensis, Syzygium cumini. Specimens examined: Narasimha parvata, Kotegudda. Distribution: Rare in the study area. It was earlier reported from South India (Tamil Nadu: Palni hills; Kerala), Sri Lanka, China, Japan, New Zealand and Australia. Neckeraceae 49. Calyptothecium sp. Habitat: Corticolous, rupicolous; on tree trunks, branches of trees and on rocks in shola like vegetations, evergreen and semi evergreen forests. It is found in trees such as Hopea canarensis, Mimusops elengi, Acacia auriculiformis etc. Specimens examined: Kigga, Narasimha parvata, Kotegudda, Sujigudda. 50. Himantocladium plumula (Nees) M. Fleisch. Musci Buitenzorg 3:889. 1908. Habitat: Corticolous, rupicolous; buttress roots, base of tree trunks and on rocks in shola like vegetations, evergreen and semi evergreen forests. It is found in trees such as Diospyros sps., Elaeocarpus tuberculatus,Gnetum ula. Specimens examined: Kigga, Narasimha parvata, Kotegudda, Sujigudda. Distribution: An Indo-Pacific species found to be distributed in Kerala, North-East India (Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Khasi hills) Bangladesh, China, Taiwan, Japan, Indonesia, Philippines, New Guinea and Australia. 51. Pinnatella sp. Habitat: Corticolous; on main stem of tree, branches of trees and basal part of tree in evergreen and semi evergreen forests. It is found in trees such as Holigarna arnottiana, Hopea canarensis, Mastixia arborea, Mimusops elengi. Specimens examined: Kotegudda, Sujigudda. Orthotrichaceae 52. Macromitrium moorcroftii (Hook. & Grev.) Schwägr. Sp. Musc. Frond., Suppl. 2. 2(1):67. pl. 172. 1826. Habitat: Corticolous, rupicolous; on tree trunks, branches of trees and on submerged rocks in shola like vegetations, evergreen and semi evergreen forests. It is found in trees such as Glochidion malabaricum, Gordonia obtuse, Syzygium cumini, Ziziphus rugosa. It is commonly distributed in Narasimhaparvata region and near Sirimane and Maghebailu Waterfalls. Specimens examined: Narasimha parvata, Kotegudda, Sujigudda, Sirimane and Maghebailu waterfalls. http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/ PEER-REVIEWED Page | 79 Life Sciences Leaflets FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print) 0976–1098(Online) Distribution: It was earlier reported from South India (Karnataka: Coorg, Kerala), North-East India (Western Himalaya, Khashi hills, Sikkim, Darjeeling), Andaman and Nicobar Islands, China, Nepal, Myanmar, Bhutan and Bangladesh. 53. Macromitrium sulcatum (Hook.) Brid. Bryol. Univ. 1:319. 1826. Habitat: Corticolous, rupicolous; this is a common species in evergreen, semi evergreen forests and in shola like vegetations on tree trunks, branches of trees and on rocks. It is found in trees such as Olea dioica, Poeciloneuron indicum, Syzygium cumini, Ziziphus rugosa. Specimens examined: Narasimha parvata, Kotegudda, Sujigudda, Sirimane and Maghebailu waterfalls. Distribution: It is widely distributed species in the study area. It was earlier recorded from South India (Kerala, Western Ghats of Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu: Nilgiri hills, Chennai, Karnataka; Coorg), Sri Lanka, Nepal, Madagascar, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. Polytrichaceae 54. Pogonatum microstomum (R. Br. ex Schwägr.) Brid. Bryol. Univ. 2: 745. 1827. Habitat: Terricolous; on earth cuttings in grassland, evergreen and semi evergreen forests, associated with some species of mosses and liverworts. It is well distributed on soil cuttings of evergreen forests of Sirimane waterfalls. Specimens examined: Narasimha parvata, Sujigudda, Sirimane waterfalls. Distribution: This is a South East Asiatic species reported from South India (Kerala, Tamil Nadu: Nilgiri, Palni hills; Karnataka), North-East India (Darjeeling, Western Himalaya, Sikkim, Meghalaya), Sri Lanka, Buthan, Taiwan, Philippines, Indonesia. Pottiaceae 55. Barbula indica (Hook.) Spreng. Nomencl. Bot. 2: 72. 1824. Habitat: Rupicolous, lignicolous, terricolous; it is commonly distributed on roadsides, soil cuttings, moist soil, on rock cracks, fallen logs and concrete walls in semi evergreen forests and scrubby forests. Specimens examined: Kigga, Narasimha parvata, Sujigudda. Distribution: It was earlier recorded from India (Kerala), China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Colombia, Mexico, Africa and America. 56. Hymenostomum edentulum (Mitt.) Besch. Bull. Soc. Bot. France 34: 95. 1887. Habitat: Terricolous; on soil cuttings in semi evergreen and Grasslands. Specimens examined: Narasimha parvata, Sujigudda. Distribution: It was earlier reported from South India (Tamil Nadu, Nilgiri hills, Kerala, Palni hills and Madras), Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Sri Lanka, China, North Vietnam, Taiwan, Java and Philippines. 57. Hyophila involuta (Hook.) A. Jaeger. Ber. Thätigk. St. Gallischen Naturwiss. Ges. 1871–72: 354 (Gen. Sp. Musc. 1: 202). 1873. http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/ PEER-REVIEWED Page | 80 Life Sciences Leaflets FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print) 0976–1098(Online) Habitat: Corticolous, rupicolous, lignicolous, terricolous; it is found on variety of microhabitats such as on soil, rocks, fallen logs, gaps of rocks, walls, concrete walls etc. in home-based environments and semi evergreen forests. It is a cosmopolitan species in study area. Specimens examined: Kigga, Narasimha parvata, Kotegudda, Nemmar, Sujigudda, Hariharapura, Sirimane, Maghebailu. Distribution: It was earlier recorded from Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat,, Central India (Madhya Pradesh, Orissa) North-East India (Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Bengal, Bihar, Darjeeling, Western Himalaya, Khasi hills) Sri Lanka, Nepal, China, Japan, Java, Korea, Philippines, Sumatra, Taiwan, New Guinea, South America and Europe. Pterobryaceae 58. Pterobryopsis orientalis (Müll. Hal.) M. Fleisch. Hedwigia 59: 217. 1917. Habitat: Corticolous; on tree trunks and branches of trees associated with other mosses and leafy liverworts in evergreen and semi evergreen forests. It is found in trees such as Careya arborea, Garcinia indica, Hopea canarensis, Litsea floribunda, Mastixia arborea, Olea dioica, Persea macrantha, Psychotria nigra. Specimens examined: Narasimha parvata, Sujigudda, Sirimane and Maghebailu waterfalls regions. Distribution: It was earlier reported from South India (Tamil Nadu, Nilgiri hills, Kerala), North-East India (Mussoorie, Kumoan, Darjeeling, Sikkim), Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar, Yuman. 59. Pterobryopsis sp. Habitat: Corticolous; on tree trunks, branches of trees and on rocks in evergreen and semi evergreen forests. It is found in trees such as Allophylus cobbe, Artocarpus heterophyllus, Callicarpa tomentosa, Canarium strictum, Canthium dicoccum, Cinnamomum viarum, Dichapetalum gelonioides, Dillenia pentagyna, Diospyros ebenum, Diospyros hirsuta, Diospyros montana, Garcinia gummi-gutta, Garcinia indica. This species is well distributed in semi evergreen trees. Specimens examined: Kigga, Narasimha parvata, Kotegudda, Nemmar, Sujigudda, Sirimane and Maghebailu waterfalls regions. Thuidiaceae 60. Thuidium pristocalyx (C.Muell.) A. Jaeger. Ber. Senckenberg. Naturf. Ges. 1867-77: 257.1878. Habitat: Rupicolous; on rocks in shola like vegetations, evergreen and semi evergreen forests. It is usually found on rocks and base of trees near the streams in evergreen and shola like vegetations. Specimens examined: Narasimha parvata, Sujigudda. Distribution: It was earlier reported from Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malayasia, Philippines and South India (Kerala). Trachypodaceae 61. Trachypodopsis serrulata (P. Beauv.) M. Fleisch. Hedwigia 45: 67. 1906. http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/ PEER-REVIEWED Page | 81 Life Sciences Leaflets FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print) 0976–1098(Online) Habitat: Corticolous; on tree trunks in evergreen forests. It is found in trees such as Mastixia arborea, Memecylon malbaricum, Myristica dactyloides, Persea macrantha, Syzygium caryophyllatum, Syzygium cumini. Specimens examined: Narasimha parvata, Sujigudda, Sirimane and Maghebailu waterfalls regions. Distribution: It was earlier reported from South India (Tamil Nadu, Palni hills), North-East India (Calcutta, Mussoorie, Arunachal Pradesh, Khasi hills, Naga hills, Sikkim, Simla), Andaman Islands, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Thailand, Loas, Sumatra, Java, Borneo, Celebes, Taiwan, Central and South Africa. 62. Trachypus bicolor Reinw. & Hornsch. Nova Acta Phys.-Med. Acad. Caes. Leop.-Carol. Nat. Cur. 14(2): 708. f. 39. 1829. Habitat: Corticolous; Common on tree trunks, branches of trees and on rocks in semi evergreen forests, shola like vegetations and evergreen. Specimens examined: Narasimha parvata, Kotegudda, Sujigudda. Distribution: It was reported earlier from South India (Tamil Nadu, Palni hills, Nilgiri hills, Kerala, Chinnar Wildlife sanctuary), North-East India (Western Himalayas, Assam, Sikkim). Sri Lanka, China, Nepal, Brazil, French Guinea, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Myanmar, Thailand, New Guinea, Philippines and Sumatra. DISCUSSION: The study area is unique and having diverse vegetation types. Almost all are vegetation types such as forests, paddy fields, plantations etc. The area being in the hilly tract of the Western Ghats. The macro habitat classification is mainly depends on types of forest and non-forest areas and microhabitat classifications of Pocs (1982) and Nair et al. 2005 with some modifications to deal with distribution of bryophytes in the study area. Bryaceae, Meteoriaceae, Fissidentaceae and Hypnaceae are dominant families in the study area. Bryum coronatum, B. plumosum, B. pseudotriquetrum, Campylopus flexuosus, Hyophila involuta, Fissidens sps., Barbula indica, Pterobryopsis sps., Isopterygium sps., Asterella khasiana, Reboulia hemisphaerica, and Fossombronia indica are commonly distributed in study area. Soil microhabitat represents well distribution of bryophytes compare to other microhabitat in non-forest areas, grasslands and acacia plantations. Contrary to this, wood is well substratum for bryophyte distribution in forest areas. The results revealed that semi evergreen forests are having highest species richness compared to other forest types. Bryum coronatum, B. pseudotriquetrum, Hyophila involuta, Funaria hygrometrica, Philnotis hastata, Asterella khasiana, Reboulia hemisphaerica are commonly distributed in home based environments. Though the bryophytes are cosmopolitan in distribution, most of them exhibit strong preference to specific http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/ PEER-REVIEWED Page | 82 Life Sciences Leaflets FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print) 0976–1098(Online) microhabitats. Usually they do not exist as isolated populations but are found growing mixed with other species of bryophytes, ferns, herbs, grasses etc. as biological associations of communities. The distribution of bryophytes depends on the physical and chemical characteristics of the substrate trees as well as other external and inherent factors (Smith, 1982). The identity of the substrate tree species is of great importance in substrate specificity of bryophytes (Iwastzuki, 1960; Slack 1976). But Philips (1951) opined that the specificity of the substrate tree is not an important factor whereas, microclimate of the prevailing area of the species is very significant. In malnad regions of Chikmagalur district, most of the epiphytic species are not substrate specific. Except some terricolous species, most of the shola bryophytes are restricted to the shola vegetation. Substrate specificity is little in shola vegetation; bryophytes grow on almost all trees due to the most favorable climate. Shola bryophytes extend to evergreen forests also. CONCLUSION: Basically, the Western Ghats is “green paradise”; it always ‘green’ to biologists also for their studies. Bryophytes are green mossy plants; it gives more contribution to this green paradise for increasing greenery. Bryophytes are substrate specific and weak competitors, and as colonists mostly occur only in temporarily available small microhabitats like the soil, barks of trees, leaves, dead logs, rocks and stones. Bryophytes are not parasitic plants. So the word “host specificity” is not suitable in the interaction of bryophytes and tree substrates. They have supporting nature and it is substratum for higher plants such as herbs, grasses, orchids etc. and they give protection to insects, arthropods, birds etc. Study area receives remarkable rainfall, awesome humid climate, the tremendous water retention capacity and good moisture help to great diversity of bryophytes. Our study revealed that 62 species of bryophytes belonging to 44 genera and 30 families. Of these, mosses comprise 46 species, liverworts 14 and hornworts two species. Most of the life forms of bryophytes in malnad regions are hanging mosses, creeping thallus, leafy form, capsule bearing mosses etc. No systematic data is available on bryophytes of malnad regions of Chikmagalur district. So this preliminary baseline data gives their documentation, distribution and species richness. It helps to thrive light on future research. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: The first author is thankful to the Department of Applied Botany, Kuvempu University for the award of General merit Fellowship. Authors are thankful to the staff members of the Forest Department of Sringeri and Koppa divison for extending their support during our field studies. http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/ PEER-REVIEWED Page | 83 Life Sciences Leaflets FREE DOWNLOAD ISSN 2277-4297(Print) 0976–1098(Online) REFERENCES: Achard, F., Eva, H.D., Stibig, H.J., Mayaux, P., Gallego, J., Richards, T. and Malingreau, J.P. 2002. Determination of deforestation rate of the world’s humid tropical rain forest. 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Ecological Monographs, 21:301-316. Table 1. Distribution of bryophyte species in different forest types of Malnad regions of Chikmagalur District Sl No 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 Species Name Family Aerobryopsis longissima Anthoceros crispulus Asterella khasiana Barbula indica Brachythecium buchananii Bryum argenteum Bryum coronatum Bryum plumosum Bryum pseudotriquetrum Bryum wightii Calymperes afzelii Calymperes erosum Calyptothecium sp. Campylopus ericoides Campylopus flexuosus Cheilolejeunea sp. Chiloscyphus sp. Cyathodium cavernarum Dumortiera hirsuta Entodon flavescens Entodon plicatus Fissidens asperisetus Fissidens ceylonensis Fissidens crenulatus Fissidens zollingeri Floribundaria walkeri Fossombronia indica Funaria hygrometrica Garckea flexuosa Himantocladium plumula Hymenostomum edentulum Hyophila involuta Meteoriaceae Anthocerotaceae Aytoniaceae Pottiaceae Brachytheciaceae Bryaceae Bryaceae Bryaceae Bryaceae Bryaceae Calymperaceae Calymperaceae Neckeraceae Dicranaceae Dicranaceae Lejeuneaceae Geocalycaceae Targioniaceae Marchantiaceae Entodontaceae Entodontaceae Fissidentaceae Fissidentaceae Fissidentaceae Fissidentaceae Meteoriaceae Fossombroniaceae Funariaceae Ditrichaceae Neckeraceae Pottiaceae Pottiaceae http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/ EG SE + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + SH AP GL SC HE + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + PEER-REVIEWED + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + Page | 85 + Life Sciences Leaflets Sl No 33 34 35 36 37 38 ISSN 2277-4297(Print) FREE DOWNLOAD Species Name Isopterygium albescens Isopterygium sp. Lopholejeunea subfusca Macromitrium moorcroftii Macromitrium sulcatum Macrothamnium macrocarpum Meteoriopsis reclinata 39 Meteoriopsis squarrosa 40 Octoblepharum albidum 41 Pallavicinia lyellii 42 Papillaria crocea 43 Phaeoceros laevis 44 Philonotis fontana 45 Philonotis hastata 46 Pinnatella sp. 47 Pogonatum microstomum 48 Porella campylophylla 49 Pterobryopsis orientalis 50 Pterobryopsis sp. 51 Reboulia hemisphaerica 52 Rhynchostegium herbaceum 53 Riccia fluitans 54 Riccia frostii 55 Spruceanthus semirepandus 56 Targionia hyophyla 57 Taxiphyllum taxirameum 58 Thuidium pristocalyx 59 Trachypodopsis serrulata 60 Trachypus bicolor 61 Vesicularia reticulata 62 Abbreviations: Family EG SE SH AP Hypnaceae Hypnaceae Lejeuneaceae Orthotrichaceae Orthotrichaceae Hylocomiaceae + + + + + + + + + Meteoriaceae Meteoriaceae Leucobryaceae Pallaviciniaceae Meteoriaceae Anthocerotaceae Bartramiaceae Bartramiaceae Neckeraceae Polytrichaceae Porellaceae Pterobryaceae Pterobryaceae Aytoniaceae Brachytheciaceae Ricciaceae Ricciaceae Lejeuneaceae Targioniaceae Hypnaceae Thuidiaceae Trachypodaceae Trachypodaceae Hypnaceae + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + 0976–1098(Online) GL SC HE + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + EV-Evergreen, SH- Shola like vegetation, SE-Semi evergreen, SC- Scrubby forest, AP- Acacia plantation, HE- Home based- environment http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/ PEER-REVIEWED Page | 86 Life Sciences Leaflets FREE DOWNLOAD http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/ ISSN 2277-4297(Print) PEER-REVIEWED 0976–1098(Online) Page | 87 Life Sciences Leaflets FREE DOWNLOAD http://lifesciencesleaflets.ning.com/ ISSN 2277-4297(Print) PEER-REVIEWED 0976–1098(Online) Page | 88