Diversity of the Grimmiaceae subfam. Racomitrioideae in sub-Saharan Africa is briefly outlined. This subfamily is represented by two genera in this region, namely Racomitrium Brid. s. str. and Bucklandiella Roiv. which, until recently, consisted altogether of one and four species, respectively. Bucklandiella striatipila (Cardot) Bednarek-Ochyra et Ochyra, a species described from Chile, is here added as the fourth species of Bucklandiella to the moss flora of mainland Africa where it occurs in the Western Cape in South Africa. The species is briefly taxonomically assessed and its diagnostic characters are described and illustrated. The global range of B. striatipila is briefly reviewed and mapped. The error in the citation of the avowed substitute of Grimmia austropatens Müll.Hal. 1899, hom. illeg., in Schistidium Bruch et Schimp. is corrected for S. austropatens (Broth.) Ochyra et Bednarek-Ochyra.

A molecular and morphological study using two chloroplast molecular markers (rps4 and trnL-F) was carried out with specimens belonging to Hymenoloma mulahaceni, a species described at the end of the 19^th century from the Sierra Nevada Mountains in southern Spain as a member of Oreoweisia. The comparison with Asian, European, and North American material of Dicranoweisia intermedia proved the conspecifity of both taxa, which was corroborated by molecular data. Therefore, the distribution area of H. mulahaceni is extended to U.S.A., Canada, Greenland, and several Asian countries (Armenia, Georgia, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan). We also tested the monophyly of Hymenoloma sensu Ochyra et al. (2003), by including in the analysis the Holarctic taxa assigned to the genus together with Chilean material identified as H. antarcticum (putatively synonymous with the type of Hymenoloma) and H. crispulum. Phylogenetic analysis of basal haplolepidous taxa taking into account different genera, mainly of the Dicranales but also of Bryoxiphiales and Scouleriales, confirmed the monophyly of Hymenoloma and suggested a close relationship with the Scouleriaceae sensu Hedderson et al. (2004), while Dicranoweisia was resolved within Rhabdoweisiaceae. Molecular data helped us to show that Hymenoloma brevipes, morphologically closely related to H. crispulum, is a distinct taxon from H. antarcticum. This challenges the earlier records of H. crispulum from the Southern Hemisphere but a comprehensive revision is necessary to confirm its status in the region. A key to the genera Dicranoweisia and Hymenoloma and the European species of Hymenoloma is included.

Tetrodontium ovatum. (Funck) Schwägr. is recorded as new for the French bryoflora, based on a sample collected in the region of Haute-Savoie. Data on its autoecological features are provided. Additionally, its diagnostic characters are discussed and an identification key to Tetrodontium species in France is proposed.

Seven mosses, Erpodium biseriatum, Floribundaria pseudofloribunda, Leptodictyum riparium, Macromitrium serpens, Rhodobryum aubertii, Sematophyllum phoeniceum, Trichostomum brachydontium, and one liverwort Lepidozia flexuosa, are new for the New Caledonian flora following identification of some gatherings made in 2008 and herbarium specimens at PC and REN. In addition, new localities have been found for three species of mosses recently discovered in the Territory, Anomodon pseudotristis, Calymperes motlei, Euptychium piliferum and two new synonyms are given for Paris nomina nuda, the moss Vesicularia compienei (= V. subfuscescens) and the liverwort Lepidozia etesseana (= Telaranea kogiana). Moreover two doubtful names of the recent checklist of liverworts are rejected after examination of specimens cited from New Caledonia, Lepidozia supradecomposita and Telaranea lawesii and the data of Zoopsis liukiuensis in New Caledonia earlier than its first publication is reported. In spite of the relatively numerous data dealing with it, the knowledge of bryophyte flora in New Caledonia will increase and be clarified by sampling many widely overlooked areas (for example dry forests) and biotopes and re-examination of herbarium collections.

This is the first study designed to explore behavioral effects of the water extract of the moss Rhodobryum ontariense (ROE). Experimental adult animals received intraperitoneal injections of ROE (50–400 mg/kg; vs. saline) 45 min before behavioural evaluation. Motor effects of ROE were estimated in male mice using the open field test (OFT), whereas the elevated plus maze (EPM) model of anxiety was applied on male rats. Single ROE treatments significantly decreased motor activity of mice in OFT (p<0.001) by reducing both the percentage of activity time and the distance travelled in 15 min. Also, ROE in rats significantly increased (p<0.05) the percentage of time spent in open arms and the number of open-arm-entries during 5 min, which was similar to the actions of diazepam in rats (1 mg/kg). These results demonstrated that ROE produced motor sedation and anxiolytic-like effects in rodents.

Hygrohypnum styriacum (Limpr.) Broth. is reported new to France and the Pyrenees. It was recorded in the eastern part of the mountain range (Pyrénées-Orientales). Its ecological requirements and the new locality are briefly described.

Hygrohypnum styriacum (Limpr.) Broth. est signalé pour la première fois en France et dans les Pyrénées. Cette espéce a été observée dans la partie est de cette chaîne de montagne (Pyrénées-Orientales). Ses affinités écologiques et la nouvelle localité sont brièvement décrites.

Twenty-nine moss taxa are recorded, for the first time, from Khashm El-Aish plateau in Omayed Protected Area (OPA), Mediterranean coast, Egypt. Sixteen of them represent new records to the western Mediterranean coast (Mm) and six [Aloina brevirostris (Hook, et Grev.) Kindb., Entosthodon cf. commutatus Durieu et Mont., Didymodon cordatus Jur., Tortella flavovirens (Bruch.) Broth., Tortula cuneifolia (Dicks.) Turner, T. muralis Hedw. var. aestiva (Hedw.) Brid.] to Egypt bringing their totals to 63 and 170 taxa, respectively. OPA represents 0.07% of Egypt's area but sustains over 17% of its moss flora. The most common taxa are species of Tortella. The most frequent genera are Tortella, Didymodon and Bryum. The largest genera are Didymodon, Bryum and Tortula. The Pottiaceae represent ca. 76% of the flora and comprise over 70% of taxa recorded with sporophytes. Similarity of the bryoflora of OPA is mainly with Sinai and Isthmic Desert in Egypt.

Bryum valparaisense Thér. is reported new to France. It was collected on the Mediterranean coast in the eastern part of Dept. Pyrénées-Orientales. Its ecological requirements and the new locality are briefly described.

Wetland bryophyte characterization from the Páramo of Mifafí Valley, located in Mérida, Venezuela, at more than 4.000 m resulted in 13 new bryophytes records for the Mérida State, seven records are new for the country (six mosses and one liverwort).

The typification of the name Marchanda hemisphaerica L. [≡ Reboulia hemisphaerica (L.) Raddi] (Aytoniaceae) is discussed. A specimen from the Linnaean Herbarium (LINN) is designated as the lectotype.