Allelopathic effect of crustaceous lichens on epiphytic bryophytes and vascular plants

Observations in the field revealed that crustaceous lichens seemed to inhib it the growth of epiphytic bryophytes and possibly also of vascular epiphyt es. Therefore experiments were performed to test the effect of extracts of crustaceous lichens and bark samples on the germination of spores of the mo sses Ceratodon purpureus and Funaria hygrometrica as well on seeds of Vries ea splendens (Bromeliaceae) and Lepidium sativum (Brassicaceae). The result s show that extracts of the crustaceous lichens Cryptotheca sp. and Pertusa ria sp, inhibit the germination of spores and seeds. Extracts of bark sampl es reduce the germination rate of Vriesea but promote the germination of Le pidium.