Authors: Rahul Jaiswar, Abhishek Kumar Sharma, Meena Rai
Abstract: The present study focuses on the morphological identification of dominant liverwort genera in the Kumaon hills of Uttarakhand, India, with particular emphasis on sporophyte characters for accu-rate taxonomic resolution. Field investigations were conducted in the Jageshwar region of Almora district and its adjoining areas up to Jageshwar Dham, a moist temperate zone characterized by mixed broad-leaved forests, shaded rock surfaces, and anthropogenically influenced temple com-plexes. These varied habitats form a mosaic of microenvironments favourable for the establish-ment of thalloid liverworts. During the survey, members of the families Aytoniaceae, Marchantiaceae, and Targioniaceae were recorded across soil, rock, and wall substrates. The liv-erwort flora documented comprised five species belonging to the genera Plagiochasma, Targio-nia, and Marchantia. Species of Plagiochasma and Targionia formed extensive patches on ex-posed to semi-shaded soil and rocky slopes, whereas Marchantia species were predominant in persistently moist, partially shaded habitats. These distributional patterns indicate clear ecological preferences among the dominant taxa within the study area. Overall, the investigation highlights the rich representation of complex thalloid liverworts in the Jageshwar landscape and underscores the significance of habitat heterogeneity in shaping bryophytic diversity in the mid-altitude Ku-maon Himalaya.
DOI: http://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.17879162
