MOSSES OF THE G. ALLAN HANCOCK EXPEDITION 

 OF 1934, COLLECTED BY WM. R. TAYLOR 



(With One Plate) 



By WILLIAM CAMPBELL STEERE 

 Department of Botany and the Herbarium of the University of Michigan 



Considering the fact that most of Dr. Taylor's collecting was done 

 in the immediate vicinity of the seashore, since he was engaged 

 primarily in the collection of marine algae, it is not surprising that 

 his series of bryophytes is not a large one. However, the smallness 

 of the collection is well compensated for by the unusual significance 

 and interest of the material. Among the thirty-three species here 

 reported, two, Fissidens Hancockiana from Colombia and Barbula 

 Taylorii from the Galapagos Islands, are proposed as new, whereas 

 many others represent new records for the areas considered, and 

 consequently add much to our knowledge of their geographical 

 distribution. Since six of the nine mosses from the Galapagos Islands 

 represent new reports for the area, it is obvious, as already pointed 

 out by Mr, Bartram (1933), that a full bryological exploration of 

 these Islands will appreciably extend the list of moss species, and 

 probably reveal new and interesting forms, as well. 



FiSSIDENTACEAE 



Fissidens mollis Mitt., Jour. Linn. Soc, Bot. 12:600. 1869. 



On red sandstone at the bottom of a forest stream, in rather less 

 than two feet of water. Bahia Honda, Panama (west coast) ; Febru- 

 ary 21, 1934; W. R. Taylor No. iioo. 



Since this material was growing eighteen to twenty-four inches 

 below the surface of the water during the dry season, and must 

 consequently be much more deeply submerged during the rainy 

 season, it seems to represent a completely aquatic phase of the 

 species. Such a habitat is all the more noteworthy, because of the 

 relative scarcity of aquatic species in the section Bryoidium. 



Distribution: Cuba; Jamaica; Trinidad; Panama; western South 

 America, 



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