Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer
Type: Article
Published: 2025-07-30
Page range: 125-140
Abstract views: 397
PDF downloaded: 7

Unraveling taxonomy of Fissidens sylvaticus and its varieties from India

Botanical Survey of India, Northern Regional Centre, 192 Kaulagarh Road, Dehradun-248195, Uttarakhand, India
Botanical Survey of India, Northern Regional Centre, 192 Kaulagarh Road, Dehradun-248195, Uttarakhand, India
Botanical Survey of India, Northern Regional Centre, 192 Kaulagarh Road, Dehradun-248195, Uttarakhand, India
Fissidens India Mosses Synonymy Taxonomy Bryophytes

Abstract

The taxonomic status of Fissidens sylvaticus and its varieties known from India are reinvestigated. F. sylvaticus var. teraicola is proposed as a new synonym of F. crispulus var. crispulus. F. sylvaticus var. calcuttense and F. sylvaticus var. auriculatus are proposed to be new synonyms of F. curvato-involutus. A newly described taxon, F. crispulus var. nelliampathiae is also synonymized with F. crispulus var. robinsonii. The diagnostic features of F. taxifolius, F. crispulus and F. curvato-involutus from India have been given along with supportive line-drawing illustrations and photographic plates.

References

  1. Alam, A. (2013) Moss flora of Munsiyari (Uttarakhand), Western Himalayas, India. Archive for Bryology 161: 1–11. [http://www.archive-for-bryology.com/Archive%20161.pdf]
  2. Alam, A., Pandey, S., Singh, V., Sharma, S.C. & Sharma, V. (2014) Moss flora of Mount Abu (Rajasthan), India: An updated checklist. Tropical Plant Research 1 (1): 8–13. [https://www.tropicalplantresearch.com/archives/2014/vol1issue1/3.pdf]
  3. Allen, M.A. & Pursell, R.A. (1993) The genus Fissidens (Musci) in Maine. Evansia 10 (1): 13–24. https://doi.org/10.5962/p.345983
  4. Beever, J.E. (2014) Fissidentaceae. In: Heenan, P.B., Breitwieser, I. & Wilton, A.D. (eds.) Flora of New Zealand Mosses. Fascicle 8. Maanaaki Whenue press, Lincoln, 91 pp. [https://datastore.landcareresearch.co.nz/dataset/nzflora-beever-2014-fissidentaceae/resource/a4f81e12-134e-4b86-b6ec-d8d369c2b804]
  5. Bridel, S.É.v. (1806) Muscologiae Recentiorum Supplementum 1. C.G. Ettinger, Gotha, 271 pp.
  6. Bridel, S.É.v. (1819) Muscologiae Recentiorum Supplementum 4. C.G. Ettinger, Gotha, 220 pp.
  7. Brotherus, V.F. (1901) Fissidentaceae. Die natürlichen Pflanzenfamilien 1 (3): 351–363.
  8. Brotherus, V.F. (1918) Contributions to the Bryological flora of the Philippines V. The Philippine Journal of Science Section C, Botany 13: 201–222.
  9. Bruggeman-Nannenga, M.A. (1997) Notes on Fissidens VI. New synonyms, new combinations and validation of some names. Journal of the Hattori Botanical Laboratory 81: 155–173. https://doi.org/10.18968/jhbl.81.0_155
  10. Bruggeman-Nannenga, M.A. (2019a) Neotypification of Fissidens arunii (Musci). Acta Musei Silesiae, Scientiae Naturales 68: 25–28. https://doi.org/10.2478/cszma-2019-0003
  11. Bruggeman-Nannenga, M.A. (2019b) Fissidens ezukanmae Brugg.-Nann., sp. nov. (Fissidentaceae, Bryopsida), a new species from termite mounds in Nigeria. Cryptogamie Bryologie 40 (3): 15–18. https://doi.org/10.5252/cryptogamie-bryologie2019v40a3
  12. Bruggeman-Nannenga, M.A. (2022a) On the peristomes of the corticolous African species of Fissidens Hedw. (Fissidentaceae, Bryophyta). Cryptogamie Bryologie 43 (2): 9–36. https://doi.org/10.5252/cryptogamie-bryologie2022v43a2
  13. Bruggeman-Nannenga, M.A. (2022b) Five new species of Fissidens Hedw. (Fissidentaceae, Bryophyta), taxonomic notes and a new species record for South Africa. Cryptogamie Bryologie 43 (3): 37–49. https://doi.org/10.5252/cryptogamie-bryologie2022v43a3
  14. Bruggeman-Nannenga, M.A. (2023) Notes on Fissidens flavolimbatus Besch. and F. ghanae Bizot. Acta Biologica Plantarum Agriensis 11 (1): 193–198. https://doi.org/10.21406/abpa.2023.11.1.193
  15. Bruggeman-Nannenga, M.A. (2024) Subgenus Polypodiopsis (Fissidens, Bryophyta) in Tropical Africa II. The completely limbate species with small to medium sized, pluripapillose or mammillose laminal cells, including F. latelimbatus sp. nov. Lindbergia 2024 (1): 1–19. https://doi.org/10.25227/linbg.25309
  16. Bruggeman-Nannenga, M.A. & Arts, T. (2010) A revision of the Fissidentaceae (Musci) of La Re´union (including all species known from Mauritius and Rodriguez). Journal of Bryology 32: 170–207. https://doi.org/10.1179/037366810X12735734836179
  17. Bruggeman-Nannenga, M.A. & Müller, F. (2020) A contribution to the Fissidens Hedw. (Musci, Fissidentaceae) of Myanmar, including F. strictidens sp. nov. and F. pseudoanomalus sp. nov. Cryptogamie Bryologie 41 (18): 229–238. https://doi.org/10.5252/cryptogamie-bryologie2020v41a18
  18. Brühl, P. (1931) A census of Indian Mosses: with analytical keys to the genera referred to in the census as well as the genera dealt with in the second edition of Prof. Brotherus’ Account of the Musci Veri in Engler and Prantl’s” Pflanzenfamilien”. Records of the Botanical Survey of India 13 (1): 1–144.
  19. Cairns, A., Meagher, D. & Ramsay, H. (2019) A revised checklist of the moss flora of the Australian Wet Tropics. Telopea 22: 1–30. https://doi.org/10.7751/telopea13208
  20. Chaudhary, B.L., Sharma, T.P. & Sanadhya, C. (2006) Bryophyte Flora of Gujarat (India). Himanshu Publications, New Delhi, India, 197 pp.
  21. Chopra, R.S. & Kumar, S.S. (1981) Mosses of the Western Himalayas and Adjacent Plains. Annales Cryptogamici et phytopathologici Vol. 5. Chronica Botanica Company, New Delhi, 142 pp.
  22. Daniels, A.E.D. & Daniel, P. (2013) The Bryoflora of the Southern Western Ghats, India. Shiva offset Press, Dehradun, 352 pp.
  23. Daniels, A.E.D. & Daniel, P. (2005) Additions to the moss flora of the Indian mainland. Nelumbo 47: 93–100. https://doi.org/10.20324/nelumbo/v47/2005/74115
  24. Dixon, H.N. (1921) On collection of mosses from the Kanara District. Journal of the Indian Botanical Society 2: 174–188.
  25. Dixon, H.N. (1933) Mosses of Hong Kong. The Hong Kong naturalist Supplement 2: 1–31.
  26. Dixon, H.N. (1938) Notes on the moss collections of the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh. Notes from the Royal Botanic Garden, Edinburgh 19: 279–302.
  27. Dozy, F. & Molkenboer, J.H. (1854) Musci 1: In: H.Zollinger (Ed.) Systematisches Verzeichniss der im Indischen Archipel, Zurich, 29: pp. 22–33.
  28. Erzberger, P. (2016) The genus Fissidens (Fissidentaceae, Bryophyta) in Hungary. Studia botanica hungarica 47 (1): 41–139. https://doi.org/10.17110/StudBot.2016.47.1.41
  29. Gangulee, H.C. (1971) Mosses of Eastern India. Fasc. 2. Privately published, Calcutta, India, pp. 177–566.
  30. Griffith, W. (1842) Muscologia itineris Assamici I; or, a description of mosses, collected during the journey of the Assam Deputation, in the years 1835 and 1836. Calcutta Journal of Natural History and Miscellany of the Arts and Sciences in India 2: 465–514.
  31. Gupta, R., Nath, V. & Asthana, A.K. (2017) Two Species of Fissidens (Fissidentaceae): New to Indian Bryoflora. National Academy Science Letters 40: 295–299. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40009-017-0556-3
  32. He, S. (2000) An annotated checklist and atlas of the mosses of Thailand. Missouri Botanical Garden. [http://legacy.tropicos.org/projectwebportal.aspx?pagename=MossChecklist&projectid=87]
  33. Hedwig, J. (1801) Species Muscorum Frondosorum VI. Joannis Ambrosii Barthii, Lipsiae, 352 pp.
  34. Hodgetts, N.G., Söderström, L., Blockeel, T.L., Caspari, S., Ignatov, M.S., Konstantinova, N.A., Lockhart, N., Papp, B., Schröck, C., Sim-Sim, M. & Bell, D. (2020) An annotated checklist of bryophytes of Europe, Macaronesia and Cyprus. Journal of Bryology 42 (1): 1–116. https://doi.org/10.1080/03736687.2019.1694329
  35. Ignatova, E.A., Kuznetsova, O.I. & Ignatov, M.S. (2023) The genus Fissidens in Russia, II: Fissidens neomagofukui and related species. Arctoa 32 (2): 207–215. https://doi.org/10.15298/arctoa.32.18
  36. Iwatsuki, Z. & Mohamed, M.A. (1987) The genus Fissidens in peninsular Malaysia and Singapore (a preliminary study). Journal of the Hattori Botanical Laboratory 62: 339–360. https://doi.org/10.18968/jhbl.62.0_339
  37. Iwatsuki, Z. & Suzuki, T. (1977) Fissidens in the Ryukyu Islands, Japan. The Journal of the Hattori Botanical Laboratory 43: 379–408. https://doi.org/10.18968/jhbl.43.0_379
  38. Iwatsuki, Z. & Suzuki, T. (1982) A taxonomic revision of the Japanese species of Fissidens (Musci). Journal of the Hattori Botanical Laboratory 51: 329–508. https://doi.org/10.18968/jhbl.51.0_329
  39. Iwatsuki, Z. & Suzuki, T. (1989) New Caledonian Fissidentaceae (Musci). Journal of the Hattori Botanical Laboratory 67: 267–290. https://doi.org/10.18968/jhbl.67.0_267
  40. Iwatsuki, Z. & Suzuki, T. (1999) The status of Fissidens involutus and F. curvato-involutus (Musci, Fissidentaceae). Haussknechtia Beiheft 9: 217–220.
  41. Khan, T.A. & Bagwan, S.A. (2023) Fissidens curvato-involutus Dix. (Fissidentaceae) New distributional records for Satpuda range of Maharashtra. Indian Journal of Plant Sciences 12: 147–150.
  42. Kwon, W. (2021) Fissidens (Fissidentaceae, Bryophyta) species newly recorded in Korea. Korean Journal of Plant Taxonomy 51 (1): 18–32. https://doi.org/10.11110/kjpt.2021.51.1.18
  43. Lal, J. (2005) A checklist of Indian Mosses. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh, Dehradun, India, 164 pp.
  44. Li, X.-J., Crosby, M.R. & He, S. (2001) Moss Flora of China Volume 2. Fissidentaceae–Ptychomitriaceae. Science Press & Missouri Botanical Garden, Beijing, New York & St. Louis, 283 pp.
  45. Manjula, K.M. & Manju, C.N. (2016) Genus Fissidens Hedw. (Fissidentaceae; Bryophyta) from Eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh, India. Cryptogam Biodiversity and Assessment 1 (2): 1–15. https://doi.org/10.21756/cab.v1i2.7034
  46. Manjula, K.M. & Manju, C.N. (2020) An account of Section Crispidium of Fissidens Subgen. Pachyfissidens in Western Ghats of India with description of a new variety and an extension range. Taiwania 65 (3): 295–315. https://doi.org/10.6165/tai.2020.65.295
  47. Manjula, K.M., Manju, C.N. & Rajesh, K.P. (2022) Fissidentaceae (Bryophyta) of Western Ghats India. Vibgyor Imprints, Kozhikode, Kerala India, 449 pp.
  48. Müller, C. (1849) Synopsis Muscorum Frondosorum Omnium hucusque cognitorum 1. A. Foerstner, Berlin, 812 pp. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.31
  49. Müller, C. (1871) Musci Indici Novi. Linnaea 37: 163–182.
  50. Müller, C. (1901) Genera Muscorum Frondosorum. Verlag von Karl Kummer, Leipzig, 474 pp.
  51. Nath, V., Asthana, A.K. & Gupta, R. (2011) Genus Fissidens Hedw. (Fissidentaceae, Bryopsida) at Pachmarhi Biosphere Reserve (Madhya Pradesh), India. Taiwania 56 (1): 71–80. https://doi.org/10.6165/tai.2011.56(1).71
  52. Nath, V., Asthana, A.K. & Kapoor, R. (2005) A study on the genus Fissidens Hedw. (Musci) of Achanakmar Sanctuary (Chhattisgarh). Indian Journal of Forestry 28 (4): 433–438. https://doi.org/10.54207/bsmps1000-2005-W1X19Y
  53. Norris, D.H. & Koponen, T. (1987) Bryophyte flora of the Huon Peninsula, Papua New Guinea XX. Annales Botanici Fennici 24: 177–219. [https://www.jstor.org/stable/23725494]
  54. O’Shea, B.J. (2002) Checklist of the mosses of Sri Lanka. Journal of the Hattori Botanical Laboratory 92: 125–164.
  55. O’Shea, B.J. (2006) Checklist of mosses of Sub-Saharan Africa (version 5). Tropical Bryology Research Reports 6: 1–152. https://doi.org/10.11646/bde.10.1.14
  56. Printarakul, N., Tan, B.C., Wongkuna-Thananoppakun, K. & Santanachote, K. (2014) The Indian connection of the Thailand moss flora, with one new species, Fissidens elizbrowniae. Telopea 17: 195–215. https://doi.org/10.7751/telopea20147808
  57. Pursell, R.A. & Bruggeman-Nannenga, M.A. (2004) A revision of the infrageneric taxa of Fissidens. The Bryologist 107 (1): 1–20. https://doi.org/10.1639/0007-2745(2004)107[1:AROTIT]2.0.CO;2
  58. Pursell, R.A. & Hoe, W.J. (1977) Fissidens in Hawaii. Journal of the Hattori Botanical Laboratory 43: 81–106. https://doi.org/10.18968/jhbl.43.0_81
  59. Pursell, R.A. (1986) Typification of Hedwig’s Species of Fissidens. The Bryologist 89 (1): 35–41. https://doi.org/10.2307/3243075
  60. Pursell, R.A. (2007) Fissidentaceae. Flora Neotropica Monograph 101. The New York Botanical Garden, New York, 278 pp.
  61. Pradhan, N. (2023) Species Composition of Bryophytes at Different Altitudinal Habitats in Langtang National Park, Bagmati Province, Nepal. Journal of Plant Resources 21 (1): 5–12.
  62. Ren, Z.-J., Yu, N.-N & Zhao, Z.-T. (2020) A new aquatic Fissidens species, F. shandongensis sp. nov. (Fissidentaceae) from Shandong, China. Chenia 14: 95–97.
  63. Sahu, V. & Asthana, A.K. (2022) Mosses of Govind Wildlife Sanctuary (Uttarakhand), Westerm Himalaya, India. Indu Book Services Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi, 255 pp.
  64. Schimper, W.P. (1856) Corollarium Bryologiae Europaeae. Stuttgartiae, Sumptibus Librariae E, 140 pp.
  65. Schwarz, U. (2014) Fissidens brevinervis Broth. New to the Indian Moss Flora. Frahmia 3: 1–6. [https://frahmia.de/downloads/frahmia/frahmia_0003.pdf]
  66. Seppelt, R.D. & Stone, I.G. (2016) Australian Mosses Online 70, Fissidentaceae. Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra. [http://www.anbg.gov.au/abrs/Mosses_online/70_V2_Fissidentaceae.html]
  67. Sreenath, A. & Rao, B.R.P (2020) Twelve Bryophyte genera, new distributional records to Andhra Pradesh, India. Journal of Plant Development Sciences 12 (3): 123–133. [https://jpds.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/01.-Ravi-1717-corrected-fileRe-27-04.pdf]
  68. Srivastava, P., Sahu, V. & Asthana, A.K. (2023) A note on genus Fissidens Hedw. (Bryophyta) of Assam, India. Nelumbo 57–72. https://doi.org/10.20324/nelumbo/v65/2023/172455
  69. Suman, S. (2010) Mosses of Idduki in Western Ghats, India. Ph.D Thesis, University of Delhi, India, 239 pp.
  70. Suzuki, T. & Iwatsuki, Z. (2011) Fissidens (Fissidentaceae, Bryopsida) from Papua New Guinea located in the herbarium of the Australian National Botanical Gardens (CBG). Hattoria 2: 1–33. https://doi.org/10.18968/hattoria.2.0_1
  71. Suzuki, T., Inoue, Y. & Tsubota, H. (2018) Molecular phylogeny of the genus Fissidens (Fissidentaceae, Bryophyta) and a refinement of the infrageneric classification. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 127: 190–202. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2018.05.020
  72. Syazwana, N., Norhazrina, N., Maideen, H., Yong, K.T. & Suleiman, M. (2018) Towards a revision of the moss genus Fissidens (Fissidentaceae) in Peninsular Malaysia. Malayan Nature Journal 70 (3): 297–307.
  73. Tan, B.C. & Iwatsuki, Z. (1993) A checklist of Indochinese mosses. Journal of the Hattori Botanical Laboratory 74: 325–405. https://doi.org/10.18968/jhbl.74.0_325
  74. Tan, B.C. & Meng-Shyan, C. (2002) The taxonomy, phytogeography and conservation of the Fissidens flora of Singapore, with one new species, F. pseudoceylonensis. Journal of Bryology 24 (1): 45–55. https://doi.org/10.1179/037366802125000340
  75. Teixeira, T.P. de O., Faria, A.L.A., Bordin, J. & Carvalho-Silva, M. (2022) Phylogeny and morphology of Fissidentaceae Schimp. in the South Atlantic Islands and description of a new species. Cryptogamie Bryologie 43 (1): 1–8. https://doi.org/10.5252/cryptogamie-bryologie2022v43a1
  76. Tewari, S.D., Joshi, P., Bhandari, M., Singh, D. & Joshi, K. (2020) An assessment of bryophyte diversity of Nagar Nigam areas at Haldwani in Kumaun region of Northwest Himalaya. Journal of Pharmacognosy and Phytochemistry 9 (5): 365–372. [https://www.phytojournal.com/archives/2020.v9.i5.12251/an-assessment-of-bryophyte-diversity-of-nagar-nigam-areas-at-haldwani-in-kumaun-region-of-northwest-himalaya]

How to Cite

Jandial, M., Shukla, D. & Singh, S.K. (2025) Unraveling taxonomy of Fissidens sylvaticus and its varieties from India. Phytotaxa 712 (2): 125–140. https://doi.org/10.11646/phytotaxa.712.2.3