The Bryoflora of the Maltese Islands

Abstract

This study is the result of three years field and laboratory research work on the Bryophytes of the Maltese Islands. The results show that there are at least 128 species of Bryophytes, four of which are being recorded for the first time, namely Weissia triumphans, Pohlia elongata, Barbula convoluta and Rhizomnium punctatum. Brachythecium rutabulum was only known from Gozo and hence this is the first record for Malta. Rhynchostegiella curviseta and Enthostodon fascicularis have been found after quite a number of years, infact E. fascicularis was not found since the first record by Sickenberger in 1876. The principal synonyms, previous records from the literature and material examined during the present study, are given for each species, together with notes on ecology and geographical distributions. Leaf diagrams of most species are also given, together with local distribution maps for each species. The data were analysed to discover if there are any general trends to habitat/microhabitat preferences of the individual species and abundance and distribution within the Maltese Islands. Further analysis showed that a large proportion of the species present·, are of Mediterranean or Mediterranean-Atlantic distribution. However, there are strong circumboreal, cosmopolite and submediterranean elements as well We have two endemic species: the moss Thamnobryum cossyrense var. melitense, (the typical form is endemic to Pantelleria), and the liverwort Riccia melitensis.