Bryoerythrophyllum inaequalifolium (Tayl.) R. H. Zander is added to the moss flora of Japan. The species is closely related to B. brachystegium (Besch.) Saito, but has leaves obtuse at apex, leaf margin recurved near to the apex, and unicellular globose gemmae borne at leaf axils. It was found Gunma-ken, Japan. Description (in Japanese) and illustrations of the species are given.

View full abstract

Bryoerythrophyllum calcareum (Ther.) R. H. Zander. is added to the moss flora of Japan. The species is closely related to B. inaequalifolium (Tayl.) R. H. Zander, but has ligulate leaves. This species was found in Saitama-ken, central Honshu, Japan. Description (in Japanese) and illustrations of the species are given.

View full abstract

Drummondia prorepens (Hedw.) Britt. was once listed in the moss flora of Japan. However, Vitt in 1972 wrote that Japanese specimens of Drummondia were different from American specimens of D. prorepens, and should be called as D. sinensis. However, recently the senior author collected a specimen which should be identified as D. prorepens. This species is closely related to D. sinensis Mu11.Hal., but has ovate capsules with very lax and thin-walled exothecial cells. It was found on tree trunk of a species of Prunus at Matsukawa-cho, Shimo-ina-gun, Nagano-ken, central Honshu, Japan. Description in Japanese and illustrations of the species are given.

View full abstract

Seligeria campylopoda Kindb. is added to the moss flora of Japan. The species is described in Japanese and illustrated. A comparison is made with two related species, S. recurvata and S. diversifolia. Seligeria campylopoda was found on calcareous rock in central Honshu, Japan. A key to all species of Seligeria recorded in Japan is provided.

View full abstract

Lejeunea sordida (Nees) Nees, characterized by large reniform underleaves with shallowly bifid sinus and arched insertion, is reported as a new liverwort for Taiwan. The revised species description and illustration are provided along with information on the distribution and habitat of this species.

View full abstract

Subterranean parts of shoots of Dawsonia superba [≡D. longifolia] are shown to increase in length in addition to elongation of the above ground shoot. This appears to be caused by geotropic growth of rhizoids and rhizoid bundles. New buds of aerial shoots formed on these subterranean rhozoidal shoot masses become positioned gradually deeper in the ground than those produced during the preceding growing season. Since a new shoot from a deeper place requires energy to grow and reach the ground surface, translocation of photoassimilates must actively occur among the shoots connected by rhizoid bundles, as previously demonstrated for Polytrichum commune. Such subterranean shoot or rhizoid-systems, hidden under the ground, especially in large moss species, have seldom been reported and they may play a significant role in perennation and survival under adverse conditions.

View full abstract