Non Vascular Flora of Arica and Parinacota Region, Chile: New Records and Biogeography Consideration

Abstract

This study presents eleven new records for nonvascular plants (Bryophyta: mosses, liverworts and hornworts), from Arica and Parinacota Region, Chile. Two are new records for the country (Bartramia brevifolia subsp. brevifolia and Targonia stellaris), and nine are regional records (Amblystegium serpens, Bryum argenteum, Bryum orthothecium, Isotachis madida, Marchantia polymorpha, Phaeoceros sp., Plagiochasma rupestre, Pohlia wilsonii, Targonia hypophylla). These species are distributed discontinuously in the low scrub altitude between 3.000-4.500 m, forming communities of cushions, thalloids mats and turfs between the mineral soil and rocks, as well submerged in water streams. Biogeographically predominate subcosmopolitan and subtropical elements from Andean areas of Bolivia, Perú and Argentina, thereby supporting the floristic affinities of the northern areas and adjacent subtropical Andean regions of South America. This study increases the collection of non-vascular flora of Herbarium SGO, reports new species for the country, it also contrubutes with reference specimens of moss species previously cited in this Andean region.