A Revision of African Bryoideae, Musci (First Part)

The genera of the subfamily Bryoideae in Africa, Madagascar and neighboring islands (Afr. 1-4), consisting of some 400 species hitherto described and reported from these areas, were revised taxonomically. A total of about 930 herbarium specimens were available. Of the 400 species to be accounted for, could be studied with types and other specimens were available for about 79%. Twenty-one species of Brachymenium, 1 of Plagiobryum and 76 of Bryum (including 5 in subgenus Anomobryum, 61 in subgen. Bryum and 10 in subgen. Rhodobryum) have been recognized, respectively (many names being reduced to synonymy). Of these, Brachymenium angustirete is new to science; 5 species (Bryum micro-erythrocarpum, B. euryphyllum, B. Weigelii, B. robustum and B. perlimbatum) are recorded from the areas for the first time; and many problematic and little known species are elucidated by annotations and many detailed figures, as well. Identification keys are also provided. Several species are excluded from the genera of Bryoideae, and consequently, Pseudopohlia microstoma (Harv) U. Miz. is recognized from Madagascar for the first time and one new combination, Mnium sblimbtum (P. Vard.) is proposed. (The synopsis for "III. Phytogeography" and "IV. Speciation" will precede the second part of this article.)