Distributional Pattern of Genus Hypnum Hedw. (Bryophyta) in Relation to Habitat and Altitude at Darjeeling hills (Eastern Himalaya)

Abstract

Hypnum Hedw. is a moss genus of family Hypnaceae which mostly occurs in temperate and sub tropical regions having ample moisture regime. The present study explicates the distribution and diversity of eight taxa of Hypnum viz. H. aduncoides (Brid.) Müll. Hal., H. cupressiforme Hedw., H. cupressiforme ssp. imponens, H. macrogynum Besch., H. sikkimense Ando, H. subimponens Lesq., H. subimponens ssp. ulophyllum (Müll. Hal.) Ando and H submolluscum Besch. occurring in Darjeeling hill region of eastern Himalaya. The distribution of all the eight species of genus Hypnum in eastern Himalaya at Darjeeling hills along the altitudinal gradient and at five different habitats has been provided.