MOSSES IN THE INSELBERGS OF COTE-DIVOIRE AND ZIMBABWE

Eighteen species of bryophytes are reported from inselbergs in Ivory C oast, 25 from Zimbabwe. Fissidens basicarpus C. Mull., F. crispulus Br id., F. reflexus Hampe, F. sciophilus Mitt., F. zollingeri Mont. and B rachymenium angolense (Welw. & Duby) Jaeg. are reported as new to Ivor y Coast, Riccia congoana Steph., R. macrociliata Volk & Perold, R. ros ea Volk &: Perold, Campylopus decaryi Ther., Brachymenium philonotula Broth. and Bryum arachnoideum C. Mull. are reported as new to Zimbabwe . Plagiobryum zierii Lindb. is new to Ivory Coast and Zimbabwe. Rhizoi dal tubers are reported for the first time for Brachymenium exile (Doz y & Molk.) Bosch & Lac. The bryophyte flora of inselbergs consists mai nly of thalloid liverworts and acrocarpous mosses, foliose liverworts and pleurocarpous mosses are found rarely. Most mosses are sterile, sp orophytes were found only in a few species. Hepatics from inselbergs ( mostly species of Riccia) possess large spores, which are hardly dispe rsed by wind. Therefore the dispersal of inselberg bryophytes remains largely doubtful.