Census of the Mosses of Western Australia

Abstract

The census is based on examination of herbarium specimens and field collections. Species distributions are recorded for 24 ecogeographic regions in Western Australia. The census contains 192 taxa in 78 genera and 31 families. The largest family is the Pottiaceae with 56 species in 26 genera. The largest genera are Bryum (19 species), Fissidens (15) and Funaria (11). The list includes 30 species not previously reported from Western Australia and four species whose present known distribution is limited to the State. Within the State the number and diversity of species is greatest in the Southwestern Botanical Province. About 70% of the species are also found in South Australia, and a world-wide comparison of species distributions shows a strong Gondwanaland component to the flora.