Author(s)

Ravinder Bargali, Vishal Awasthi, Neerja Pande^*

Department of Botany, D.S.B. Campus, Kumaun University, Nainital, India.

The bryophytic vegetation associated with Platanus orientalis trees were studied and compared with other important tree species of Nainital. In total 27 mosses and liverworts belonging to 14 families with three morphological groups formed the principle component of Platanus orientalis tree bark. Based on IVI (Important Value Index), Regmatodon orthostegius together with Brachymenium capitulatum formed the pioneer community, while Herpetineuron toccoae formed the climax community on the Platanus orientalis stems. Comparison of the bryoflora of P. orientalis with other dominant trees of this locality indicated that 15 species were common, while 12 species viz., Didymodon vinealis (Brid.) R.H., Bryoerythrophyllum dentatum (Mitt.) Chen, Gemmabryum apiculatum (Schw?gr.), Ditrichum heteromallum (Hedw.) Britt., Entodon chloropus Ren. & Card., Cylindrothecium laetum (Griff.) Paris, Fabronia schensiana C. Muell., Lejeunea tuberculosa Stephani, Levierella neckeroides (Griff.), Regmatodon orthostegius Mont., Rhynchostegiella menadensis (Lac.) Bartr. and Stereophyllum fulvum (Harv.) Jaeg. were confined to the tree barks of P. orientalis.

Epiphytic, Mosses, Platanus orientalis, Nainital

Bargali, R. , Awasthi, V. and Pande, N. (2014) Ecological Study of Bryophytes on Platanus orientalis L. Trees in Nainital (Western Himalaya). American Journal of Plant Sciences, 5, 3880-3888. doi: 10.4236/ajps.2014.526406.