XVI International Botanical Congess

The hepatic flora of the Malay Peninsula is not well known. A floristic study on the family Lepidoziaceae in this area is undertaken. Nine genera and 35 species have been reported previously for this family. In 1996 and 1997 we made field surveys at several localities in the Malay Peninsula, and collected 750 specimens. Ca. 100 specimens deposited in NICH were also studied. Seven genera and 34 species of the family Lepidoziaceae were recognized, of which 11 species are new to the bryoflora of the present region. The family Lepidoziaceae in the Malay Peninsula now comprises a total of 46 species belonging to 9 genera. Taxonomic discussions is provided for Mastigopelma sp., closely related to M. subfissum from Samoa I., but is distinguished by the leaf form, the leaf cells and the stem structure, and is a distinct species. The bryoflora of the family Lepidoziaceae in Malay Peninsula was compared with those of the neighboring regions.