The bryophytes collected in Calabria (S Italy) during the VIII O.P.T.I.M.A. Iter Mediterraneum

Abstract

The list of bryophytes collected during the VIII Iter Mediterraneum of O.P.T.I.M.A., held in Calabria, is provided. 177 taxa (37 liverworts and 140 mosses), 22 of wich new to Calabrian bryoflora, are reported. Among them Brachythecium mildeanum, Racomitrium microcarpon and Rhabdoweisia crispata are new to southern Italy and rare or absent in central Italy. Other findings of phytogeographic interest are those of Pseudoleskea radicosa, Syntrichia calcicola, S. norvegica and Racomitrium elongatum, being new species to southern part of Italian peninsula. The latter is a rare moss in Italy. Moreover, since the presence of Racomitrium microcarpon in Italy was previously based on data before 1950 it is here confirmed. Likewise, 3 taxa (Ptycodium plicatum, Sphagnum palustre and Thuidium delicatulum) had not been found in southern Italy and 13 in Calabria since before 1950. In addition, new localities are recorded for other 20 rare taxa in southern Italy or throughout the entire peninsula