PJWSR_31_4_238-247

Introduction

The term bryophyta is the combination of two Greek words, Bryon means Mosses and Phyton means plant. This term was first time introduced by Robert Brown in 1864. It includes fungi, algae, lichens, and mosses. But recently this term has been used only for the non-vascular cryptogams, Sathish et al. (2013).

Bryophytes were the first avascular plants on the earth that grew in humid and wet places, Rao and Deepika (2013). About 470-551 million years ago, bryophytes completely migrated from aquatic habitats to landforms. The plant body is gametophyte (Dominant generation) which is relatively small in size, ranging from 2cm to 20cm long. They linked the tracheophytes (vascular plants) to their algal ancestors. These are the colonizers of the land vegetation Borkataky et al. (2022). Muscophyta (Music/mosses), Marchantiophyta (Liverworts) and Antheocerophyta (Hornworts) are the main three division of bryophytes, Islam (2018). Evolutionarily, they fill the gap between algae and Pteridophytes, Chimyang et al. (2021). These are small herbaceous plants that grow like a mat in various habitats. They mostly occur as rugs on rocks, poles, wet soil, dead plant bodies, and epiphytic on plants. The different microhabitats are provided by humid evergreen forests. They favor specific habitats for the occurrence due to their innate adaptive capacity i.e. species of sphagnum can gather nutrients directly from surroundings in their cells, Khati et al. (2022). These are small in size and lack vascular systems therefore ignored in biodiversity surveys, Liu et al. (2024).

These are the second most diverse group of land plants after the angiosperm and composed of 15,000 to 25,000 species throughout the world, Khati et al. (2022). The Bryoflora of Pakistan mostly occur in northern parts like (Malakand, Chitral, Hazara and Gilgit-Baltistan), Islamabad, Kashmir, and southern Punjab, Gruber and Peer (2010). The Bryoflora of Balochistan and Sindh (southwestern Pakistan) is almost unknown, Higuchi and Nishimura, (2003). Among the Pleurocarpic mosses, Hypnaceae is one the largest and most diverse family, representing 1,000 species and 60 genera worldwide. However, in Pakistan, only 15 species and 8 genera are present, Khan et al. (2020).

Bryophytes play the most important ecological roles such as nitrogen cycling, nitrogen fixation, restoring habitat, and controlling soil erosion. Although bryophytes play great ecological roles, they are often undervalued and ignored due to their small size, complex taxonomy, and unknown economic importance. However, some plant of Bryophytes has the potential to treat different diseases such as cancer, insect bites, common cold, gastritis, and microbial infections, Chimyang et al. (2021). Further, they are used as an important marker and predictor of past environmental conditions and climatic changes to verify climate patterns and have the ability to indicate global warming, Azuelo et al. (2011). The main objectives of this study are to explore and document the bryophytes flora of selected study area.

Materials and Methods

The present research was conducted through an integrated field survey and laboratory analysis from March to June 2025, for this purpose the study was carried out as follows.

Study area

Maidan Valley which is located in Dir (L) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, situated at 71o 31/ to 72o14/ E longitudes and 34o 37/ to 35o 07/ N latitudes. Maidan Valley covers a total of 300 km2 area which is encircled by a chain of Hinduraj mountains. These mountains have various altitudes, ranging from 1000 meter to 4012 meter. Out of the total area, 15664 hectares are cultivable while 2622-hectare area is covered by woods, Fazalullah and Ali (2014). The population of Maidan Valley is 219,067 (Census Report, 2017).

The climatic condition of Maidan valley is highly favorable for the development and growth of Bryophytes, Din (2006). This is a mostly rainy area. Soil moisture has a significant effect on bryophytes diversity. Due to favorable climatic condition, Maidan valley has a very high Bryophytes diversity.

Collection of bryophytes

Bryophytes were collected during the spring season when the level of moisture was high. For this purpose, 14 to 16 trips, spanning over 3 months, were conducted to collect specimens from different areas and various habitats like moist places, banks of streams, forests, and shady places (Figure 1).

Identification and labeling

The collected specimens were examined in the laboratory. The main parts of the specimen (like gametophytes and sporophytes) were studied thoroughly by using a stereoscope and a simple microscope. Different keys such as (Handbook of Mosses of Iberian Peninsula and the Balearic Islands, BBS-Field-Guide-Field-Key) and various research papers were used for the identification of plants. The identified species were preserved and labeled with specific species names and were kept at the Laboratory of Botany, Govt. Postgraduate college Timergara.

Table 1: List of mosses species along with families and substrate.

S. No	Family	Species	DR	WR	DSS	WHS	WMS	Pleuro	Acro
1	Bryaceae	Rhodobryum roseum (Hedw.) Limper.	-	-	-	+	-	-	+
		Bryum argenteum Hedw.	-	+	-	-	-	-	+
		Bryum algovicum Sendth.ex Mull. Hal.	-	+	-	-	-	-	+
		Bryum caespiticium Hedwig.	-	+	-	-	-	-	+
		Bryum pallen Sw.	-	-	-	+	-	-	+
		Pohlia cruda Hedwig.	-	-	-	+	-	-	+
		Bryum capillare Hedw.	-	-	-	+	-	-	+
2	Fissidentaceae	Fissidens taxifolius Hedw.	-	-	-	+	-	-	+
		Fissidens grandifrons Brid.	-	-	-	+	-	-	+
		Fissidens bryoides Hedw.	-	-	-	+	-	-	+
3	Grimmiaceae	Grimmia funalis (Schwaegr.) Bruch & Schimp.	+	-	-	-	-	-	+
		Grimmia alpestris (Web. & Mohr) Schleich. Ex Nees.	+	-	-	-	-	-	+
		Grimmia ovalis (Hedw) Lindb.	+	-	-	-	-	-	+
		Grimmia pulvinata Hedw) Sm.	+	-	-	-	-	-	+
4	Brachytheciaceae	Homalothecium sericeum Hedwig.	-	+	-	-	-	+	-
		Brachythecium velutinum (Hedw) Ignatov & Huttunen	-	-	-	+	-	+	-
		Brachythecium rutabulum (Hedw.) Schimp.	-	-	-	+	-	+	-
5	Pottiaceae	Didymodon vinealis (Brid.) R.H Zander	-	-	+	-	-	-	+
		Tortula muralis Hedw.	-	-	+	-	-	-	+
		Barbula unguiculata Hedwig	-	-	+	-	-	-	+
		Barbula convoluta Hedwig	-	-	+	-	-	-	+
6	Polytrichaceae	Atrichum undulatum (Hedw.) P. Beauv. var. flaisetum Mitt.	-	-	-	+	-	-	+
6	Polytrichaceae	Polytrichum commune Hedw.	-	-	-	+	-	-	+
7	Bartramiaceae	Philionotis fontana (Hedwig) Bridel	-	-	-	+	-	-	+
8	Mniaceae	Mnium hornum Hedwig, Sp. Musc.	-	-	-	+	-	+	-
8	Mniaceae	Mnium stellare Reichard ex Hedw.	-	-	-	+	-	+	-
9	Climaciaceae	Climacium dendroides (Hedw.) F. Weber &D. Mohr.	-	-	-	+	-	-	+
10	Thuidiaceae	Thuidium furfurosum (Hook.f.& Wilson)	-	-	-	-	+	+	-
11	Hypnaceae	Hypnum cupressiformes Hedwig	-	-	-	+	-	+	-
		Taxiphyllum taxirameum Mitt.) M. Fleish.	-	-	-	+	-	+	-
		Ptilium crista castrensis (Hedw.)	-	-	-	-	+	+	-
12	Hedwigiaceae	Hedwigia ciliata (Hedwig) Spruce.	-	-	-	+	-	-	+
13	Orthotrichaceae	Orthotrichum anomalum Hedw.	-	+	-	-	-	+	-
13	Orthotrichaceae	Orthotrichum pulchellum Brunt.	-	+	-	-	-	+	-
14	Funariaceae	Funaria hygrometrica Hedw.	-	-	-	+	-	-	+
14	Funariaceae	Physcomitrium pyriforme (Hedw.)	-	-	-	+	-	-	+
15	Amblystegiaceae	Cratoneuron filicinum (Hedw.) Spruce.	-	-	-	+	-	-	+
16	Bryoxiphiaceae	Bryoxiphium norvegicum	-	-	-	+	-	-	+

DR= Dry rock, WR= Wet rock, DSS= Dry sandy rock, WHS= Wet humus soil, WMS= Wet muddy soil. Pleuro= Pleurocarpus moss Acro= Acrocarpus moss Presence = + Absence = -

Results

During this research study, a total of 50 species of bryophytes were collected from different altitudes of the study area, out of them, 38 belong to mosses, distributed in 16 families and 25 genera (Table 1, Figures 2, 3). Among the mosses, 28 species (73.68%)were acrocarpic while the remaining 10 species (26.31%) were Pleurocarpic. Bryaceae was the largest family of mosses; containing 3 genera and 7 species followed by Grimmiaceae family having 3 genera and 5 species. While Fissidentaceae family consists of one genus and 3 species (Figures 2, 3). Moreover, 12 liverworts species were also reported from the study area, belonging to 7 families and 10 genera (Table 2, Figure 4). Among the liverworts, Marchantiaceae was the largest family consisting of 2 genera and 4 species.

Table 2: Species diversity of liverworts in the study area.

S.	Family	Species
1	Marchantiaceae	Marchantia polymorpha L.
		Marchantia nepalensis L.
		Marchantia palmata Nees.
		Preissia quadrata Nees.
2	Aytoniaceae	Fimbraria mussuriensis Kashyap
		Plagiochasma appendiculatum L. et L. Pug.
		Reboulia hemisphaerica Raddi.
3	Grimaldiaceae	Grimaldia indica St.
4	Pelliaceae	Pellia endiviifolia (Dick) Dum.
5	Lejeuneaceae	Lejeunea flava (SW.) Nees.
6	Dumortieraceae	Dumortiera hirsuta Reinw.
7	Ricciaceae	Riccia cavernosa Hoffm.

Discussion

The study aimed to explore the Bryoflora of Maidan Valley and determined their relationship with substrate. Bryophytes are small-sized plants that mostly occur in moist habitats, and evade direct exposure to sunlight, Vanderpoorten et al. (2010). They are the second most diverse group of land plants after the Angiosperm composed of 15,000 to 25,000 species worldwide, Khati et al. (2022). These are widely distributed in the world and are found in more than one continent. Some are found all over the world; therefore, bryophytes were distributed more widely than tracheophytes. About 20,000 species of bryophytes which were distributed in 960 genera are found all over the world. Various scientists worked on the taxonomy, distribution, and features of bryophytes during the 19th and 20th centuries, Thoker and Patel (2019). The Bryoflora of Pakistan mostly occurs in northern parts like (Malakand, Chitral, Hazara, and Gilgit-Baltistan), Islamabad, Kashmir, and southern Punjab, Gruber and Peer (2010). The Bryophytes of Balochistan and Sindh (Southwestern Pakistan) are almost unknown, Higuchi and Nishimura (2003).

During the present research, 50 species of bryophytes were collected from the research site, out of which 38 belong to mosses, distributed in 25 genera and 16 families. Among these mosses, 28 species (73.68%) were Acrocarpic, while the remaining 10 (26.31%) were Pleurocarpic. Moreover, 12 liverworts were also reported from the research site, belonging to 7 families and 10 genera.

Hazrat et al. (2020) collected a total of 45 species, out of which 27 were mosses,16 liverworts, and 2 species of hornworts from Sheringal Dir Upper. Similarly, Ahmad et al. (2018) also studied the diverse group of bryophytes Chimyang et al., 2021 and collected a total of 32 species of mosses from, District Lower Dir of Pakistan. The reported species belong to 10 acrocarpic and 3 Pleurocarpic families. Similarly, 3 genera and one family were reported for the first time from Pakistan. While Din (2006) collected 43 bryophytes from the Maidan valley.

Homalothecium sericeum (Figure 17) is the member of Brachytheciaceae family having an average size body with yellow to greenish-yellow color. The stem is regularly or irregularly pinnately branched with Creeping growth. The species are mostly found in shaded soil, such as wet rock, or at the base of trees and rotten logs. Khan et al. (2021) also documented such species from the Western Himalayas.

The ability to tolerate desiccation is a survival strategy observed in many bryophytes, including representatives genera, such as Tortula and Syntrichia of the family Pottiaceae collected from dry habitats in the City of Novi Sad (Serbia), Milovanović et al. (2023). Likewise, during the present study, Tortula of the family Pottiaceae were also reported from open dry rock and sandy soil. Bryaceae, Pottiaceae, Grimmiaceae, and Brachytheciaceae are diverse families in the study area. Milovanović et al. (2023), also documented such families from the City of Novi Sad (Serbia).

Brachythecium rutabulum (Figure 19) was collected from wet soil and Brachythecium velutinum from the bank of the stream. Grimmia and Barbula species mostly occur in dry conditions with less developed and erect gametophytes. Funaria and Bryum (Figure 14) are small-sized with erect gametophytes and adapted to muddy soil conditions Hazrat et al. (2020), also collected these species from such types of habitats in Sheringal Valley.

Orthotrichum anomalum mostly occurs on wet rock, the trunk of the tree with exerted and cylindrical capsule. This species was also collected by Schafer-Verwimp and Gruber (2002), from Pakistan. Polytrichum commune (Figure 8), Atrichum undulatum (Figure 11), Mnium stellare (Figure 11), Mnium hornum, and Cratoneuron filicinum (Figure 12) are present in moist soil, along the streams. Philionotis fontana, Funaria hygrometrica, and Fissidens grandifrons were present on submerged rocks in streams and moist shady places. Two species of Hypnaceae such as Taxiphyllum taxirameum, and Hypnum cupressiformes were collected from wet muddy soil along the stream. Islam (2018) also collected these species from the district, of Masuhara.

Conclusions

During the present study, 50 species of bryophytes were collected from the research site. Out of the total collected species, 38 belong to mosses and 12 liverworts. Bryaceae was the largest family represented by 3 genera and 7 species followed by Grimmiaceae having 3 genera and 5 species. Some species such as Mnium hornum, Climacium dendroides, Ptilium crista castrensis, Thuidium furfurosum, Pohlia cruda (Figure 10), Bryum argentum (Figure 13), Riccia cavernosa (Figure 23), and Lejeunea flava (Figure 23) were collected for the first time from District Dir Lower. This research will provide a base for other researchers to discuss in more detail other aspect of Bryophytes in this area.

Acknowledgment

Alhamdulillah (All praises and Gratefulness is due to Allah). I also pay our respect to the Holy Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) and his companions, who guide us with their teachings. I would also like to express my deepest gratitude to my research supervisor, Mr. Sajad Hussain, and co-authors for their precious guidance, support and encouragement throughout this research study.

Novelty Statement

This research study documents the bryophyte flora of Maidan Valley, District Dir Lower, KPK. It reports for the first-time a collection of numerous bryophyte species, including several new species, recorded for the first time in the study area. The research provides baseline taxonomic data to support future researches, particularly in bryology.

Author’s Contribution

Khaliq Ur Rahman, Shahid Khan, and Wahid Ullah carried out the research by collecting data and conducting fieldwork. The project was organized by Inam Ullah, and the collected data were identified under the kind supervision of Sajad Hussain. Muhammad Zamir performed the data analysis, while Tufail Ahmad Zeb provided the research methodology. Fawad Khan conducted the literature review necessary for writing the manuscript and Abbas Khan provided grammatical support in research paper writing.

Generative AI and AI-assisted technology statement

The authors declare that no generative AI or AI-assisted technologies were used in the writing, analysis, or preparation of this manuscript.

Conflict of interest

The authors have declared no conflict of interest.

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