A Survey of Moss flora of Zagros Mountains in Khouzestan Province

Khouzastan Province is situated in south-west of Iran. It covers an area of ۶۳۶۳۳ sq. km, which lies between the latitudes of ۲۹° ۵۷´ N and ۳۳° ۰۰´ N and the longitudes of ۴۷° ۴۰´ E and ۵۰° ۳۳´ E. The elevation varies between sea level at Persian Gulf beaches to ۳۵۰۰ m in Sefidkoh Mountain. For this study, after field trips in suitable seasons, moss samples were collected from seven locations during summer ۲۰۱۸–۲۰۲۰. Samples were collected in paper bags and field data were recorded. Samples were then air-dried in room temperature and stored in the standard paper packets. For morphological observations, all samples were separately soaked in hot water for a few minutes to aid their revival. Identification of the specimens were made with the help of Smith (۲۰۰۴), Frey et al. (۲۰۰۶), Kürschner (۲۰۰۷), Athertonn et al. (۲۰۱۰), and Kürschner & Frey (۲۰۱۱). The voucher specimens are preserved in the Herbarium of the Ministry of Jihad-e-Agriculture (“IRAN”) at the Iranian Research Institute of Plant Protection (Tehran, Iran). As a result of the present investigation, ۱۲ species and ۱۱ genera belonging to six families were identified. One species belonging to the family Pottiaceae, namely, Dialytrichia mucronata (Brid.) Broth. was reported new to the Iranian bryoflora.

Keywords:

Mosses , Khouzastan Province , Zagros Mountains , Acrocarpous , Pleurocarpous