J. Phytol. Res. 22(2) : 263-266, 2009 A SURVEY OF MOSS FLORA FROM PONMT]DI IilLLS S.SAJITHA RA.lAll and lC MURUcAIit Plant biochemistry and Molecular Biolory taboratory, Department of Botany, Univenity College, Thiruvananthapuram- 695034, Kerala, India. Email: hari [email protected] Bryophyes are one among the plant groups which attain lesser attention in Kerala irrespective of its abundance and diversity. The present work was undertaken with the objective of surveying the moss flora along the hill station, Ponmudi. Ponmudi represents snow clad region ofWestern Ghats mountain ranges tha( run parallel to Arabian Sea. It has a tropical climate with a diversity of vegetation include grass lands, shola forest, evergreen and deciduous forest. Taxonomic surveywas carried to identiS the mosses seasonally. The present study reports 29 species ofmosses, belonging to 13 genera and 9 families. Keywords: Bryophytes; Mosses; Ponmudi; Survey. Introduction of the moss flora along this belt was poorly documented. Mosses are unique among land plants in that gametophytic In the present study an attempt was made to the generation is photosynthetically dominant with the taxonomy of moss flora in Ponmudi and could be useful sporophye permanently attached to and particularly as a guide for future reference. Vegetation and climate parasitic up on the gametophyte. The developments of here is quite favourable for the growth and distribution of moss protonema with the subsequent differentiation of a large number of mosses. buds are regulated by a variety of environmental factorsr. Material and Methods Their abundance often reveals unpolluted Systematic collections of Mosses were made from the environment2-7. Mosses, which are the pioneers in soil study area from October 2007 onwards, by conducting formation possess a high range of adaptabilities in adverse regular field trips to Ponmudi in different seasons. climatic conditionss. Eventhough they are small in size, Terrestrial and epiphytic species were collected. The i high which are often becomes gregarious canopy species i forming tuftse. Moss which were not easily accessible were diversity is highly correlated with the diversity of collected from the fallen branchesrr. Corticolous and rngiosperms of forests, which provide a wide range of lithophytes species which were strongly attached to the habitats to colonisero. Inspite of the richness ofmoss flora substratum were collected with a portion of the bark and i in tndia, this fascinating group ofplants has not attracted roclg respectivelyr2. The identification of samples was tk attention of research workers. carried out using various flora and monographs. The field Ponmudi (The Golden Peak) is a hill station, data were recorded in the field book such as collection pcrched at an altitude of9 I 6 m above the sea level on the dates, collection number, altitude and habitat. All sow clad region ofWestem Ghats. The average elevation specimens were investigated taxonomically by b 16 ft. from the sea level. It is a part of the Westem morphological and anatomical characters. Ghats mountain ranges that run parallel to Arabian Sea. It Results and Discussion ha{ a tropical climate. The mean maximum temperature Taxonomic Descriptions 34oC and the mean minimum temperature is 21.C. The BRYOPSIDA hmidity is high and rises to about 90% during the POLYTRICHACEAE Erorsoon season. It is located at 8.5" N 76.9. E on the Pogonatum P. Beauv rEst coast, near the southern tip of mainland India. l. Pogonatum microstomum (Schwaegr.) Brid. Foomudi is blessed with grasslands, shola, evergreen and Small to robust plants, seta long and smooth, erect or dociduous forest. Kallar region which comes under the inclined capsule, callptra hajry. Seen along soil su6ings rea ofPonmudi is also rich in mosses, inhabiting on rocks, in grasslands, sometimes mixed with other mosses in semi nil, tree trunks, barlg rotten logs and leaves. The diversity evergreen, evergreen forests and grassland area. The 263 264 Rajan & Murugan species was collected from the Kallar region and hill top ll. E crenulaas Mitt-Small plants, yellowish green, leaves in the study area and has a wide distribution in this area. curled when dry, semilimbidium absent, seta orange- DICRANACEAE brown, capsule ovoid, erect, brown. Growing on soil and CampylopusBid. rotten wood. It is common in the study area. 2. Campylopus eicoides(Griff.)A.Jaeger- Robust glossy 12. F. walkeri Broth - Plants small, blackish-greer\ nerve yellowish- brown plants, stem lacks central strand, seta precurrent, seta smooth, erect, capsule symmetrical, reddish brown, alar cells colorless, ovate-cylindrical nilrow at base. Growing on moist red laterite soil. It is capsule. Seen on rocky patches along with Bryum and most common in Ponmudi hills. also on soil cuttings in grass lands. It is commonly seen in 13. F. minutus Thwait - Plants very small, leaves oblong the second hair pin turn of Ponmudi hill and also reported lingulate, nerve sub precurrent, sporophyte not seen. widely in South India Growing onthe barkof Mangifera indica.Itis so common 3. C. flexosu,s (Hedw.) Brid- Dark to olive green plants, throughout Ponmudi. seta inflexed, alar cells brownish, capsule reddish brown. F'TJNARIACEAE Seen on rocks and soils in grasslands. This is a FunariaHedvr. cosmopolitan species mostly occurring in high altitude 14. Funaia hygrometricaHedw - Plants looselyorclosely areas. It is reported earlier from South India, Eravikulam tufted, leaves yellowish-green, nerye precurrent, seta long, National Park in Kerala. reddish, capsule asymmetrical, reddish-brown, wide Trematodon Michx. mouthed and pyriform. It is very corlmon at different 4. Trematoilon longicollis Michx - Yellowish-green plants, places of Ponmudi hills. seta long, prominent, long and cylindrical apophysis, Entosthodon Schwaegr. yellowish brown capsqle. Seen on soil cuffings in evergreen 15 . Entosthodon wichurae M. Ftesich ' Plants gregarious, forests. It is a cosmopolitan species distributed in South green, small, crowded leaves, seta apical, capsule erect to India. inclined, calyptra cucullate. It is a common species in moist FISSIDENTACEAE grounds ofPonmudi. FissidensHedw. BRYACEAE Schwaegr. 5. Fissidens ceylonensis Dozy&Molk - Yellowish-green Rhodob ryum (Schimp.) Limpr. plants, folded and curled leaves, seta small, brownish to 16. Rhodobryum giganteum (Schwaegr.) - Large and red, capsule erect with orange callptra' It is common in robust plants, greenish-brown, crowded leaves at apex, rocks and stones, brick walls and on exposed roots oftrees costa strong, excurrent, seta long, capsule pendulous. It is and in homestead areas. It is a widely distributed species very common in the study area and confured to top of common in South India. Ponmuidhills. 6. F zollingeri Montin-Small, green plants' large leaves BryumHedw. with one cell thickness in margin, terminal seta, erect and 17. Bryum qrgenteum Hedw - Plants silvery white symmetrical capsule. Densely tufted and growing on moist coloured, crowded leaves, nerve precurrent, seta apical, soil and rocks. It is common in the Kallar regions. red and erect, capsule red, pendulous. Seen as dense 7. F. subbryoides Gangalee-Very small plants, reddish- cushion on bricks and stones. This "silver thread moss" is brown stem, narrow leaves, seta long and light brown in cosmopolitan in distribution in the study area. colour, capsule cylindrical with oblique operculum. 18. B. coronqtum Schvruegr - Dull yellowish-green plants, Growing together with F. virens at Ponmudi hills. leaves contorted when dry, nerve excurrent, seta apical, 8. F. virens Thwait. Ex Mitt - Very small plants, crowded erect and reddish, capsule pear shaped and pendulous. Very leaves, leaf margin crenulated, seta apical, capsule corrmon on rocks and on calcareous walls ofold buildings. cylindrical to ovate. Mostly epiphyic, rarely growing on It is common throughout the study area along the hairpin soil and rocks. It is rare in the study area- turns of Ponmudi. 9. E splachnobryoidesBroth. - Plants robusl gregarious, 19. B. wight, Mitti - Densely tufted, large, yellowish- dull yellowish green leaves contorted when dry, gemmao green plants, leaves oblong-ovate, nerve excurrent, axillary and septate. Grows luxuriantly in July- August on sporophyte not seen. Forming laxcarpets onrocls onway moist soil or rocks. It is common in the study area. to Ponrnudi hill top. 10.F. crispulus Brid - Minute plants, prominent central 20. B.cellulare Hook - Plants light greenish to brown, strand sheathing lamina unequal, costa excurrent.It is seen leaves closely overlapping, costa prominent, seta erect, in shady areas and soils. Common in Kallar regions. capsule globose and pendulous. It is a cosmopolitan J. Phytol. Res. 22(2) : 263-266, 2009 26s ?ci:s seen in soil and on rocks. 2l- B- pseudotriquertrum (Iledw.) Schwaegr - Plants , belonging to 13 genera and 9 familie. fro- the Ponmudi lrrsish re{ crowded leaves, seta reddish-browq capsule hill station. Species such as Fissidens virens, Philonotis &gated, cylindrical andpendulous. Seen on soil, rocks fontana, Racopilum caspidigerum are some of the rarest dbarts of tees. found in this area. Based on the observations made during II{IACEAE Schwaegr. the field trips, apocarpous urosses are capable ofsurviving l&,itonHedw. during arid conditions inspite of exposure to constant 22- Mnium rostratum Schrad - Robust yellowish-green effects of sunlight and wind. On the other hand, Dlats, leaves contorted when dry seta strong, reddish, pleurocarpous mosses were observed