THE MOSS FLORA OF THE COMMUNITIES OF Buxus sempervirens L. IN FIRTINA VALLEY (ÇAMLIHEMŞİN, RİZE)

Abstract

This paper deals with a moss floristic study of the communities of Buxus sempervirens L. in Firtina valley, on northern slopes of the Kackar Mountains. After the identification of 85 moss specimens collected from the research area between June and August in 2005, total 47 taxa were defined. These taxa belong to 18 families and 34 genera of the bryophytes. Among them 6 taxa (Tetraphis pellucida Hedw., Dicranoweisia crispula (Hedw.) Milde, Dicranodontium denudatum (Brid.) E.Britton var. denudatum, Oncophorus virens (Hedw.) Brid., Pseudoleskeella nervosa (Brid.) Nyholm, Eurhynchium schleicheri (R.Hedw.) Jur.) are new records for A4 grid-square which was adopted by Henderson (1961). The families which have the richest species with high taxon number are as follows: Dicranaceae (7), Hypnaceae (6), Brachytheciaceae (5), Mniaceae (5), Polytrichaceae (4). The richest genera on account of the number of species, subspecies and varieties are: Plagiomnium (4), Polytrichum (3), Hypnum (3). The ecological spectrums of these taxa are considered, comprising their preferred substrate, humidity and life forms have been assessed using DierAŸen (2001) and MA¤gdefrau (1982). Key Words: Firtina Valley, Buxus sempervirens, Moss Flora, Rize