Yuriy S. Mamontov

New national and regional bryophyte records, 41

Dicranum spurium has been recorded for the first time in Croatia. In neighbouring countries it is known from Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Montenegro (Cortini Pedrotti, 1992 ; Sabovljevic´ et al., 2008 ; Papp et al., 2010). In Hungary, it is treated as VU (vulnerable) (Papp et al., 2010), in Montenegro as DD (data-deficient) (Sabovljevic´ et al., 2004), and further in the Balkans as EN (endangered) in Romania (Stefanut¸ & Goia, 2012). Dicranum spurium was found on Papuk Mountain (northeastern Croatia). Ninety-five per cent of Papuk Mountain is covered by forest vegetation, the yearly mean temperature is between 8 and 11C, and annual precipitation varies between 800 and 1300 mm. Almost the whole of the mountain is protected as a Nature Park. The locality in Svinjarevac where D. spurium occurred is beech forest (Fagus sylvatica L.), unique in Croatia, with a dense cover of Sphagnum quinquefarium (Braithw.) Warnst. on the forest floor. The bedrock is quartzite and gneiss, sloping between 35 and 45, and exposed to the northwest. This Fagus-Sphagnum quinquefarium forest was spread over 2.4 ha., with a poorly developed layer of herbaceous plants. Sphagnum platyphyllum was recorded during an extensive survey of spruce forests throughout Croatia. It was found in Stirovaca, a plateau in the central part of Velebit Mountain. The locality for this first record of S. platyphyllum for Croatia is just near the border of the Northern Velebit National Park (The whole Velebit Mountain is protected as a Nature Park). According to Dull et al. (1999), Sabovljevic (2006), and Sabovljevic et al. (2008), the species has not been recorded from Croatia, although it is known to occur in neighbouring countries: Italy, Slovenia, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Serbia (Cortini Pedrotti, 1992 ; Sabovljevic et al., 2008 ; Papp et al., 2010). In many of these countries, it is red listed: as VU (vulnerable) in Hungary, Slovenia, and Serbia (Martincicc, 1992 ; Sabovljevic et al., 2004 ; Papp et al., 2010) and further in the Balkans as NT (near threatened) in Romania (Stefanut & Goia, 2012). This part of Velebit Mountain is characterized by cool and long winters, with 1900 mm average annual precipitation and an average annual temperature of 3.5C. The natural vegetation consists of beech-fir and spruce forests and some of the forest stands are still primeval. Sphagnum platyphyllum occurred in a wet spruce (Picea abies (L.) H.Karst.) forest, where it grew in dense carpets covering the forest floor and the banks of shallow depressions (ca 100 m2) filled with water. The collection site in Stirovaca is the only known locality for this unique spruce forest community with peat mosses in Croatia. Sphagnum teres was found at two localities in Croatia, in or near the National Park Plitvicka jezera lakes, but in different habitats within the belt of beech-fir forests. The climate is moderately temperate, with 1500 mm annual precipitation and an average temperature of 7.9C. This is the first record of this species for Croatia, although in the neighbouring countries, it is known from Italy, Slovenia, Hungary and Serbia, and further to the south-east, in FYR Macedonia, Bulgaria and Greece (Papp et al., 2010 ; Sabovljevic et al., 2008). S. teres has been recently recorded as new for Albania (Marka & Sabovljevic, 2011), Bosnia- Herzegovina (Sabovljevic´ et al., 2010) and Montenegro (Martincic, 2006), and is red listed as CR (critically endangered) in Hungary (Papp et al., 2010), and as VU (vulnerable) in Serbia (Sabovljevic et al., 2004). The first locality, Ljeskovacˇke bare, is within the National Park Plitvicka jezera lakes. Here, the species occurred in transitional peat bog belonging to the community Drosero-Caricetum echinatae and occupying an area of ca 1 ha., S. teres was the dominant Sphagnum species. Sphagnum squarrosum Crome, S. palustre L., S. centrale C.E.O.Jensen and S. flexuosum Dozy & Molk. were also relatively abundant. The bog is wet throughout the year, but mostly without open water. Depending on the amount of precipitation, it can be flooded during winter and spring. The bog is not shaded ; it is completely exposed to the sun, but partially overgrown by Molinia coerulea Moench, which is mowed in the management of the Park. Some other species characteristic for this site were Drosera rotundifolia L., Carex echinata Murray, C. lasiocarpa Ehrh., and Menyanthes trifoliata L. The second locality, Vrhovinsko polje, is situated near the eastern border of Plitvicˇka jezera lakes National Park. It is a typical karst field, with the lowest, central part periodically flooded during winter and early spring. It is covered with grassland vegetation of different communities reflecting gradients of water and soil pH. The flora was very rich. In the lowest part of the field were several shallow depressions with a perimeter of 10–20 m overgrown by sedges, mostly Carex vesicaria L. On the edges of these depressions were scattered peat moss hummocks of Sphagnum palustre L., S. capillifolium (Ehrh.) Hedw., and S. subnitens Russow & Warnst. Among them, S. teres (Schimp.) Angstr. also occured, but in much lower abundance.

The genus Ascidiota C.Massal. (Porellaceae, Marchantiophyta) in North Asia

Abstract In 2013 the monotypic genus Ascidiota C.Massal. was found in the Republic of Buryatia and the Taymyr District of Krasnoyarsk Territory, Russia. These are the most northerly known localities for Ascidiota. An illustration, distribution map and complete description of A. blepharophylla C.Massal. are provided. Variation, differentiation, and distribution of A. blepharophylla are discussed. A key to distinguish Ascidiota from morphologically similar species of the genera Porella L. and Frullania Raddi is presented. Sequences of nrITS1–5·8S–ITS2 were identical in plants from Buryatia and Alaska. This supports the hypothesis of the integrity of this monotypic genus. Inadequate bryological exploration of many northern territories suggests that the list of Ascidiota records, especially in north Asia, will be extended in the future.

Hepatics from Rovno amber (Ukraine), 6. Frullania rovnoi, sp. nov.

A fossil species of the extant liverwort genus Frullania Raddi is described and illustrated, based on a single inclusion in a piece of Rovno amber (Ukraine) that shares its age with Late Eocene Baltic amber, its northern contemporary. Frullania rovnoi is characterised by leaves with a rounded dorsal lobe and the absence of ocelli. The ventral lobe is inflated and forms a saclike lobule, which is bell-shaped and somewhat constricted above the mouth. The bifid underleaves have several blunt teeth or angulations along the shoulder. The Rovno fossil differs sufficiently from morphologically similar species preserved in Baltic and Bitterfeld amber as to be described as new to science. The shape of the lobules and underleaves, as well as the absence of ocelli, indicate an affiliation to F. sect. Australes, hitherto represented in Eocene amber inclusions solely by F. schumannii (Casp.) Grolle. The Rovno fossil is distinguished from extant species of F. subg. Australes and from F. schumannii by having roughly and irregularly dentate-angulate underleaf margins.