Abstract
This paper is derived from a research project produced during the author’s studies for a BSc in Horticulture with Plantsmanship at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE). The body of work represents findings from a floristic survey of naturally occurring bryophytes in the Ferns and Fossils House at RBGE. This site merited close study due to the known presence of at least two southern hemisphere species along with many native species. Horticultural staff were interviewed about current bryophyte management within glasshouse displays. Recommendations are made for raising the status of bryophytes in botanic gardens and expanding the scope of living collections.
 This report includes an introduction, literature review, methodology, survey results, interview summary and conclusion.
Highlights
Bryophytes are an important area of research at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE)
A floristic survey of the naturally occurring bryophyte flora in the Ferns and Fossils House at RBGE was conducted. This glasshouse was selected for study as populations of two southern hemisphere species had been previously identified within the fern house, most likely introduced as ‘hitch-hikers’ on tree ferns in the late 1800s
Molecular analyses conducted on Hypopterygium specimens from three botanic gardens in Scotland, Germany and Portugal confirmed that all populations were H. tamarisci from Australia or New Zealand, strongly suggesting that it arrived with tree ferns in the late 1800s (Stech & Pfeiffer, 2006)
Summary
Bryophytes are an important area of research at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE). The UK has a richly diverse native bryophyte flora This is not currently reflected in the living collections, and bryophytes are under-represented in botanic garden collections in general. Naturalistic glasshouse displays such as those at RBGE have abundant, naturally occurring populations of mosses and liverworts, and these are an unintentional yet key component of displays. In this project, a floristic survey of the naturally occurring bryophyte flora in the Ferns and Fossils House at RBGE was conducted. Compiling a species list of the current bryophyte flora had the potential to highlight the presence of further exotic species, along with many natives
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