Rosa M. Cros

The bryophytes of the Balearic Islands: an annotated checklist

Abstract As a result of the revision of herbarium specimens and literature records, an annotated checklist of bryophytes of the Balearic Islands is presented. The distribution by islands is provided for each of the 328 bryophytes taxa (one hornwort, 67 liverworts and 260 mosses) currently accepted in the archipelago. Thirty-six taxa are to be excluded or doubtful. The highest number of species is found in Mallorca (298 taxa), followed by Menorca (159 taxa), Eivissa (92 taxa), Formentera (52 taxa), Cabrera (33 taxa) and Dragonera (32 taxa). The species richness of Mallorca is due to the presence of mountains which in the Serra de Tramuntana, rise to 1445 m. That of Menorca is due to acidic substrate, which are rare in the other islands.

An approach to the bryophytic flora of the Pityusic Islands

The bryophytic knowledge of the Pityusic Islands started with Jacques Maheu’s explorations of Balearic caves in 1911, continuing to his subterranean biological work that he began in 1906 with his visit to Catalonian caves. In his paper (Maheu, 1912), he refers to five moss species found in the Santa Agnes and La Figuereta caves (Eivissa), but he does not mention any bryophyte findings in the coastal caves of Formentera. Of the species cited by this author at Eivissa, Mnium stellare, Gymnostomum rupestre, Cratoneuron commutation, Eucladium verticillatum; only the last two have been rediscovered by modern authors, while the presence of the others has been subjected to serious doubts and can be considered as erroneous.

Plagiochasma appendiculatum Lehm. & Lindenb. (Marchantiales, Aytoniaceae), a species new to the European bryophyte flora

Abstract The liverwort Plagiochasma appendiculatum Lehm. & Lindenb. is reported for the first time in Europe from Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Spain). The species is described and illustrated and its distribution and ecology are discussed. Plagiochasma appendiculatum differsfromP. rupestre (J. R. Forst. & G. Forst.) Steph., the only species of the genus known at present in Europe, by characters such as the bright green or green-yellowish thallus and the orbicular and obtusescale appendages which are markedly constricted and folded at the base.

New localities for Bryum cyclophyllum (Bryaceae) in the Iberian Peninsula

Abstract Bryum cyclophyllum is reported from two new localities in the Iberian Peninsula and added to the Portuguese bryophyte flora. The habitat and worldwide distribution of this species are discussed: it shows a mainly Arctic-boreal distribution, widespread but not frequent; it is considered a rare or threatened moss in several European regions and with relict occurrences in more southern areas of North America. The ecology and distribution probably reflect migratory events during the last glacial period of the Pleistocene.