BRYUM BICOLOR DICKS. AND FUNARIA HYGROMETRICA HEDW. DEVELOP REMARKABLE PERSISTING STRUCTURES IN EXTREME ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

  Bryum bicolor Dicks. persists during the very hot, dry and prolonged summer of Kuwait by subterranean rhizoidal tubers, stem tubers, protonemata and epiterranean main stems and stem apices, showing both “avoidance” and “tolerance” survival strategies. Funaria hygrometrica Hedw., under the same conditions, shows only “avoidance” strategy by forming subterranean corm-like or bulbiform stem bases and bulbils.