Chromosome studies in some British bryophytes

Abstract

The chromosomes of one moss and thirty liverworts are described and discussed taxonomically. Those of Lepidozia pearsonii (n = 8 + 1m), Telaranea murphyae (n = 9), Leioeolea badensis (n = 8 + 1m), Pleetoeolea paroiea (n = 9), Nardia compressa (n = 8 + 1m), N. geoscyphus (n = 9), Lophoeolea bispinosa (n = 8 + 1m), L. semiteres (n = 8 + 1m), Saccogyna viticulosa (n = 8 + 1m), Scapania curta (n = 16 + 2m), S. compacta (n = 8 + 1m), Porella laevigata (n = 8 + 1m) and P. cordaeana (n = 8 + 1m) are believed not to have been reported previously and, despite references in the literature to the cytology of Riccia crystallina and Gymnocolea inflata, reasons are given for suggesting that the present counts of n = 7 + 1m and n = 8 + 1m, respectively, may also be the first. The remaining species have been recorded cytologically in other parts of the world but not previously for Great Britain, or not with the present karyotype.