Bryophyte diversity of Berinag (Pithoragarh District) in Kumaun Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India

Abstract

This study reports the diversity of bryophytes of Berinag (Dist. Pithoragarh), Uttarakhand (India). In the investigation, a total of 33 species were reported, out of which eight were liverworts and 25 were mosses. Majority of the taxa were terricolous and corticolous. Liverwort species belonged to six genera of five families and two orders whereas mosses belonged to 24 genera of 17 families and eight orders. Out of the 10 orders dealt in the present work, Hypnales was the largest consisting of seven families, nine genera, and nine species followed by Dicranales and Marchantiales both consisting of three families, five, and four genera, respectively. In mosses, Bryaceae was the dominant family consisting of three genera and four species followed by Calymperaceae, Leucobryaceae, Anomodontaceae, Leskeaceae, and Polytrichaceae. Out of 25 mosses, 15 were acrocarpous and 10 were pleurocarpous. Aytoniaceae was dominant among liverworts. Marchantia, Frullania, and Bryum were the dominant genera of the region.