The Earliest Bryological Data from East-Central Europe

Abstract

This paper presents an annotated list of bryophyte species recorded within the present area of Poland and Kaliningrad Oblast (Russia), which were published in various botanical works between 1590 and 1730 in the pre-Linnaean period of plant taxonomy. Amongst a number of early botanical works, two catalogues are of special importance. These are the treatise on plants of the Kingdom of Poland by G. Rzączynski, of 1721, and a catalogue of plants recorded in the vicinity of Warsaw by H. C. Erndtel, of 1730. The first bryological records from the area of contemporary Poland originate from the village of Milomlyn (German Liebemuhl) and from the vicinity of the city of Gdansk (German Danzig) and were published in 1590 and in 1643, respectively. In the pre-Linnaean period of botany, 24 bryophyte species were known from the area of today's Poland, including two liverworts and 22 mosses. For each species, localities are provided and polynomial synonyms appearing in the early literature are thoroughly discussed.