Epiphyllous bryophytes in Arboretum Mlynany (Slovakia)

Abstract

In this work we screened for the diversity of epiphyllous bryophytes covering leaves of evergreen plants growing in temperate region of Arboretum Mlynany (Slovakia). We identified five taxa of not typically epiphyllous bryophytes, all belonging to mosses: Brachythecium salebrosum (Hoffm. ex F. Weber & D. Mohr) Schimp, Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw., Hypnum cupressiforme var. filiforme Brid., Platygyrium repens (Brid.) Schimp., Pylaisia polyantha (Hedw.) Schimp. All these taxa are considered as obligate members of bryoflora of Slovakia at low risk of extinction. The most abundant was the generalist H. cupressiforme, while the rarest was the typical epiphyte P. polyantha. All identified epiphylls occurred on nine species of evergreen angiosperm phorophytes: Prunus laurocerasus L., Hedera helix L., Mahonia aquifolium (Pursh) Nutt., Ilex aquifolium L., Rubus caesius L., Viburnum burkwoodii auct., Rhododendron catawbiense Michx., Viburnum rhytidophyllum Hemsl., Aucuba japonica Thunb.; on one gymnosperm phorophyte Cephalotaxus harringtonii var. drupacea (Siebold. & Zucc.) Koidz; and on one fern Asplenium scolopendrium L. The most often species of phorophyte for epiphyllous bryophytes was P. laurocerasus, while the rarest taxa were R. caesius, V. rhytidophyllum, R. catawbiense, A. japonica, V. burkwoodii.