ibclogo XVI International Botanical Congess


Abstract Number: 3463
Poster No. = 234


DIVERSITY OF MOSSES IN NORTH AMERICA


Alan T. Whittemore, Missouri Botanical Garden, P. O. Box 299, St. Louis MO 63166-0299 U.S.A.


North America north of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec has a moss flora of more than 1800 species in an area of ca 23 million square km. Except in the Arctic, the eastern half of the continent has relatively little relief, with one relatively low mountain system (elevation rarely exceeding 2000 m). Western North America and Mexico are very mountainous, with many ranges surpassing 3000 m in height. Arctic, boreal, temperate, and dry and seasonal tropical vegetation are all well represented, but there is relatively little wet lowland tropical vegetation. The distribution of moss diversity is very patchy, but centers with high local diversity are found in several different parts of the continent. The North American moss flora has very strong affinities with the flora of temperate Eurasia, and also shares many species with northern Latin America.


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