Bryophyte publications

Bryophyte Project Area

Bryophytes (mainly mosses and liverworts) are primitive, green, mainly terrestrial plants. Most inhabit soil, bare rock and the bark of trees, and are especially diverse and luxuriant in damp, shaded habitats from the tropics to cool-temperate regions and montane areas. A small number of specialised taxa thrive in the more extreme conditions prevalent in semi-arid and arid Australia and play a significant role in binding and stabilising fragile soil. At least 1800 bryophyte species are known from Australia, these comprising significant endemic, southern-temperate, pantropical and cosmopolitan elements. ABRS provides information on these through an online checklist, a CD ROM key and the Flora of Australia and Flora of Australia Supplementary Series.

Algae contact: Dr P.McCarthy