Pooja Bansal

Bryum dunense Smith et Whitehouse (Bryophyta: Bryaceae): New to Central India

Bryum dunense Smith et Whitehouse is an acrocarpous moss, belonging to family Bryaceae, has been earlier reported from Kumbhalgarh (Rajasthan) only. During recent investigation its range is extended to Mt. Abu (central India) between 24°35′33″ North of latitude and 72°42′30″ East of longitude.

Reproductive Strategies in Bryophytes

The chapter deals with the reproductive strategies in bryophytes: both asexual and sexual reproduction, fertilization and the reasons for the failure and their further development. The various factors involved in reproduction and their effects on reproductive biology with brief information on cladistic and molecular studies on phylogeny of bryophytes based on literature are provided.

Peristome as a potential tool for delimiting Bryum Hedw. (Bryaceae) from India

The peristome, an interesting and important taxonomic structure used in the systematics of mosses, is for the first time studied in detail for 21 taxa of Bryum, which constitute a fraction of Indian representatives. Macro- and micro-morphological characters including color, size and length of two components of peristome, tapering pattern, median line, and papillosity at upper part under light microscope; width of exostome border, number and inner surface of ventral trabeculae, presence or absence of longitudinal/oblique septae between ventral trabeculae, pattern of exostome surface and height of endostomial basal membrane, adherence, perforations, and surface of cilia under scanning electron microscope were examined to bring out submicroscopic differences. Detail surface structure of eight taxa, viz., B. apalodictyoides, B. evanidinerve, B. pachytheca, B. pseudotriquetrum var. subrotundum, B. reflexifolium, B. thomsonii, B. tuberosum, and B. turbinatum, under LM and nine species, namely, B. apalodictyoides, B. apiculatum, B. argenteum, B. billarderi, B. dichotomum, B. evanidinerve, B. recurvulum, B. turbinatum, and B. uliginosum, under SEM is being provided for the first time. Description of peristome surface and a key based on SEM and other taxonomical features is also being provided. The data obtained from the present study suggest that the species of this genus can easily be distinguished on the basis of peristomial surface pattern.

Pseudotrachypus ancistrodes , a new combination for Meteoriopsis ancistrodes (Meteoriaceae)

The present study attempts to define the current status of Meteoriopsis ancistrodes , which has been identified as a new addition to the South Indian bryoflora. The taxon has been variously treated by different workers from time to time, resulting in its initial placement under Pseudobarbella ancistrodes . Subsequently, in a taxonomic revision of the Meteoriaceae, Pseudobarbella was transferred to and synonymized under Pseudotrachypus . Thus in the present contribution Meteoriopsis ancistrodes is proposed as belonging in Pseudotrachypus, with the new combination P. ancistrodes . Diagnostic characters along with illustrations of the species and distinction from closely related Indian taxa, with which it may be confused, are discussed.