An updated list provides information concerning the, hitherto, known Egyptian mosses (168 taxa). Reference is made to new records (20 taxa), phytogeographical territory(ies) from which each moss has been recorded, and other relevant data. An annex to the main list includes the excluded taxa, which are 16 entities and are either nomina nuda, misidentified or, hitherto, recorded from only greenhouses and gardens or from beyond Egyptian boundaries. An appendix including 67 reference works dealing entirely or partly with Egyptian mosses is also provided.

Palmoxylon aschersoni and P. libycum, were described, based on investigation of specimens collected from new sites in Egypt, these were compared with earlier finds and differences noted. Distribution of the two species in Africa and their affinities are given.

Well preserved fragments of fossil leaves of Dipterocarpophyllum , Cyperaceae, Gramineae and a pod-like fruit are described from Oligocene (?) of Farafra Oasis, Egypt

Interest in bryophytes of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is relatively quite recent and, hitherto, only four works (Long, 1987; Frey & Kürschner, 1988; Kürschner & Böer, 1999; Shabbara & El-Saadawi, 1999) pertaining to the bryoflora of that part of the Arabian Peninsula (Fig. 1) have appeared. Only one hepatic was reported in the work of Long (1987) while in the work of Frey & Kürschner (1988) a second hepatic and three mosses have been reported. In 1999 Kürschner & Böer added five hepatics and 12 mosses which raised the total number of bryophytes known from UAE to 22 taxa (seven hepatics and 15 mosses). Shabbara and El-Saadawi (1999), further added one new hepatic and 24 new mosses; however five of these mosses were among those reported by Kürschner and Böer in the same year. This makes the total now known from UAE as 42 taxa (eight hepatics and 34 mosses). This represents a relatively good contribution to the bryoflora of that area of the Arabian Peninsula which was, till quite recently, almost unknown bryofloristically. Names of all the reported taxa and details about their distribution and floristic relationships will soon be published

Twenty-four out of 26 mosses, recently collected from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), are new records for the country and the total number is raised to 27 entities. Six of these mosses and Riccia subbifurca Warnst. ex Croz. are new records to the whole Arabian Peninsula. Upward-growing peculiar aerial rhizoids are recorded in six of the mosses. Reference to sporulation, sexual and asexual reproductive structures are made.