A literature search was made on the Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of New Caledonia (including the Isle of Pines and the Loyalty Islands). All previously-recorded taxa were treated in light of our present knowledge, and no attempt was made to verify the literature reports. A total of 449 species, 94 accepted genera and 32 families were enumerated, among them 217 species and only one genus (Perssoniella) being endemic to New Caledonia. Table 1 shows the generic name and the number of species of each genus, with the number of endemic species in parenthesis. The figure for specific endemism (48.3%) is nearly the same as for the Musci (50.4%) given by Pursell and Reese (1982).

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Galinuts, an important source of tannic acid, are produced on leaves of Rhus javanica which have been parasitized by the aphid Schlechtendalia sp. The production of gallnuts is associated with the growth of mosses, especially Mnium (s. lat.) species, because gall aphids over-winter in cocoons that they make on the mosses. The industrial management of Mnium plants for increasing gallnut production is well developed in China, where gall-making aphids are artificially raised on Mnium plants cultivated indoors under controlled conditions.

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