We studied the among- and within-genus variability of UV protection in 23 mosses belonging to the genera Andreaea, Grimmia and Racomitrium, which were collected from sun-exposed rocks in northern and central Portugal mountains. We explored the influence of genus, species and environmental factors on their UV-absorption capacity, differentiating the soluble UV-absorbing compounds (SUVAC, mainly located in the vacuoles) and the insoluble ones (WUVAC, bound to the cell wall). All the physiological variables were significantly affected by both the genus and the species, which clearly reflects the influence of genetics on the levels and compartmentation of UV-absorbing compounds (UVAC). The physiological variables analyzed were also significantly influenced by both micro- (for example, substrate and orientation) and macro-scale (chain of mountains) variables. In addition, this study showed the interaction between genetics and the environmental factors known to enhance UV exposure (for example, higher altitudes and lower latitudes and slopes) on the level and compartmentation of UV-absorbing compounds.

A sterile liverwort inclusion in a piece of Miocene Mexican amber is described and assigned to the extant genus Ceratolejeunea. The inclusion has entire leaves with a basal group of 2–4(– ca. 7) ocelli, rather thin-walled leaf cells, large ovoid lobules and bifid, suborbicular underleaves. This combination of characters does not fit the morphology of extant species. Accordingly, the fossil is described as Ceratolejeunea antiqua, sp. nov., making it the second liverwort species known from Mexican amber.

Macromitrium nepalense is characterized by its irregularly 1–3-layered upper lamina with pluripapillose cells on both dorsal and ventral surfaces. This peculiar and important feature has been overlooked or incorrectly stated by all recent taxonomic literature in circumscribing the species. The study provides a revised circumscription of Macromitrium nepalense and revealed that the surface structure of the upper lamina as shown in the cross-section is essential to the understanding of many Macromitrium species. Four additional species of Macromitrium have been found with such a peculiar feature. Macromitrium incrustatifolium and M. longibrachteatum are reduced to synonymy with M. nepalense based on the overall similarities of their gametophytic features; while M. serpens and M. tongense remain distinct from M. nepalense by having elongate, curved and sigmoid basal cells.

This article presents a reconstruction of the development of the ombrotrophic Gązwa peatland based on a high-resolution macrofossil analysis and AMS dating. Successional changes in the plant assemblages dominated by Sphagnum were influenced mainly by climate changes. Local fires occurred in the peatland, but did not have a substantial impact on the Sphagnum succession. The disappearance of the first stage of the ombrotrophic peatland, which was dominated by Sphagnum magellanicum and Sphagnum angustifolium, resulted from a decrease in the water level that was also recorded at a number of sites in Europe in approximately 3750 BC. The development of Sphagnum fuscum/rubellum assemblages in approximately 350 BC corresponds with a climate cooling that resulted from low solar activity. The re-appearance of Sphagnum magellanicum in approximately AD 1650 corresponds with the Maunder Minimum of the Little Ice Age. The recent dominance of Sphagnum fallax is a result of the drainage of the peatland and of changes in the nearby vegetation. The paleoecology of Sphagnum contortum is also discussed. In the Gązwa peatland, S. contortum occurred during two periods, 3700–3300 BC and 2850–2000 BC. The fossil occurrence of S. contortum in the Gązwa peatland corresponds with its modern ecological requirements in the northern hemisphere. S. contortum occurred in the rich fen phase with Carex lasiocarpa, Comarum palustre, Menyanthes trifoliata and Meesia triquetra. The disappearance of S. contortum is assumed to have been caused by a trophic shift and the succession of a more acidophilic species, Sphagnum obtusum.

A small ephemeral moss found in alpine habitats of Sichuan Province, China, is described asEobruchia sichuaniana sp. nov. A key and illustrations for all species of Eobruchia are also provided.

A new species, Grimmia grevenii C. Feng, X.L. Bai & J. Kou, endemic to the Wudalianchi volcanoes in the province of Heilongjiang in northeast China, is described and illustrated. It is characterized by low, white-hoary cushions, ovate-lanceolate leaves clearly contracted to the base and with rounded apex, both margins slightly recurved at the base but otherwise plane, basal and upper laminal cells not obviously differentiated, basal areolation nearly uniform, costa markedly broadened at insertion, not at all projecting on abaxial side. The new species is contrasted with two most similar species in the genus, G. maido H.C. Greven and G. longirostris Hook.

Three new corticolous lichen species are described from the Chapada do Araripe, an isolated table mountain in the state of Ceará, in NE Brazil. Eschatogonia granulosorediata has dissected ascending squamules and granular soredia that originate marginally but extend to form laminal heaps. Gassicurtia caririensis has a granular, greenish grey thallus with thiophanic acid, a red medulla with chiodectonic acid and copious punctiform red soredia, apothecia black, not pruinose, ascospores 8/ascus, 8.5–11.5 × 3–4 µm. Gassicurtia rubromarginata has a granular, greenish grey thallus with thiophanic acid but without red medulla or soredia, apothecia black with partly red margin, whitish pruinose or not, ascospores 8.5–10.5 × 4–5 µm.

Leucobryum juniperoideum (Brid.) Müll.Hal., a common moss in eastern China, grows in three typical habitats in the Tianmu Mountain National Nature Reserve, Zhejiang, China. This study aims to reveal the role of soil nitrogen and phosphorus in the distribution of Leucobryum juniperoideum by investigating soil conditions in the Tianmu Mountain National Nature Reserve. Epigeic populations of this bryophyte were found only in areas with a Moso bamboo forest, while the epixylous populations always occurred in areas with Chinese fir forest and Chinese cedar forest, and the epilithic populations occurred in all three habitat types. Analyses showed that nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations in the soils of Chinese fir forests and Chinese cedar forests were remarkably higher than those of Moso bamboo forests. In the laboratory, experiments showed that the growth of L. juniperoideum was remarkably reduced by N additions of 0.1 mol/L over a period of six months, while growth was increased by P additions of up to 0.1 mol/L over six months. In addition, physiological responses to N indicated that the mosses were sensitive to N additions, but not to additions of P. Also, high concentrations of N (200 mg/L) can significantly reduce the germination rates and can delay the development of early germination stages and stable germination stages for 2 to 4 days. Phosphorus additions did not affect the germination rate, but did cause delays in the development of germination stages. The combination of N and P caused remarkable declines in the germination rate and delayed the germinating time. Taken together, our results demonstrate that soil N is the primary determinant in limiting the distribution of L. juniperoideum populations.

Opegrapha gyrophorica, O. keyensis and O. protocetrarica, all containing secondary metabolites, are described as new to science from Everglades National Park, Florida, U.S.A. A key is provided for North American species with secondary compounds. In addition, Ampliotrema auratum, Bacidiopsora squamulosula and Eschatogonia prolifera, representing three genera previously unknown from North America, are reported from the mainland of Everglades National Park. Finally, we relate the finding of Coenogonium lutescens, C. pusillum, C. roumeguerianum, C. stenosporum, Graphis paralleloides, G. pyrrhocheiloides and Leucodecton phaeosporum, as new additions to the North American lichen checklist.