Vol. 8 No. 3 



MEMOIRS OF THE NEW YORK BOTANICAL GARDEN June 23, 1953 



PLANTS COLLECTED BY THE VERNAY NYASALAND EXPEDITION OF 1946* 



J. P. iM. Brenan and Collaborators 

 MUSCP 



The mosses collected by Mr. L. J. Brass in association with the Vernay 

 Ny as aland Expedition of 1946 give for the first time a fairly clear outline of the 

 moss flora of this little-known region. The collection is noteworthy from the fact 

 that the specimens are almost without exception in prime fruiting condition, in 

 ample quantity, carefully selected and beautifully prepared. 



Even though limited to fruiting plants the list of 22 genera comprising 51 

 species suggests some significant trends of geographical distribution. Although 

 the bryological map of Central Africa has been pricked here and there no definite 

 picture of the flora of this vast region is available at present or likely to be for a 

 long while to come. Meanwhile all that can be done is to piece out the puzzle 

 from time to time as the results of limited explorations come to light. 



Broadly interpreted the collections listed below show a slight bond with 

 Madagascar and Reunion through such species as Tayloria borbonica and Dal- 

 tonia minor and a similar affinity with South Africa below the Zambesi River in 

 Campylopus inchangae, Leucoloma rebmanni, Leptodontium squarrosum, Macromi- 

 trium tenue, etc. On the other hand a much stronger and more natural relationship 

 with the great Central African region is suggested by the appearance of such re- 

 presentative species as Campylopus stramineus, Pohlia elongata, Brachymenium 

 capitulatum, Anomobryum filiforme, Daltonia patula, Lepidopilum lastii, Rkizo- 

 fabronia sph aero carp a, Trachyphyllum fabronioides, Pogonatum aloides, and Poly- 

 trichum piliferum. 



A complete series of the species listed below is in the herbarium of the New 

 York Botanical Garden and a duplicate series in the herbarium of the writer. 



SPHAGNACEAE 



Sphagnum pycnocladulum C. Mull. 



Mlanje District: Mlanje Mountain; Luchenya Plateau, massed on wet sunny 

 rockfaces in forest, 1800 m., 16691. 



DITRICH ACEAE 



Ceratodon purpureus (Hedw.) Brid. 



Mlanje District: Mlanje Mountain; Luchenya Plateau, terrestrial under Wid- 

 dringtonia trees {% shade), 1890 m., 16552 in part. 



•Certain specimens are represented only by a single sheet in the Herbarium of the New 

 York Botanical Garden. These are distinguished in the text by an asterisk (*). The second 

 set, comprising all the specimens not so marked, is in the Herbarium of the Royal Bo- 

 tanic Gardens, Kew; where also are the types of the new taxa here described, unless other- 

 wise indicated. 



All collections are by Brass unless another collector is named. 



Names of those who collaborated are given with the taxa of which they contributed the 

 accounts. Groups not thus credited to others are the work of J. P. M. Brenan, Royal Bo- 

 tanic Gardens, Kew. 



Publication of the report was assisted by a contribution by Mr. Vernay. 



3 By Edwin B. Bartram. 



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