First report of Dicranum fulvum and Leucobryum juniperoideum in northern Iran

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Quantitative Plant Ecology and Biodiversity Research Lab, Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran

2 Department of Forest Sciences and Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources and Marine Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran

3 Botanical Garden of Nowshahr, Research Institute of Forests and Rangelands, Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

Dicranum fulvum and Leucobryum juniperoideum are new records from Iran, both discovered in a mixed Caspian beech (Fagus caspica) and Common yew (Taxus baccata) stand at the Gazu site in the central Hyrcanian forests of Savadkuh County (Mazandaran Province, northern Iran). Dicranum fulvum is a corticolous moss distinguished by its narrow, fragile leaves that become curly and flexuose when dry, and falcate-secund when moist, with a setaceous acumen and bistratose upper lamina cells. Leucobryum juniperoideum, an epixylous, found on dead wood, is characterized by its greenish-white, distinctive costa and the presence of hyalocysts (leucocysts) and chlorocysts. This is the first report of Leucobryaceae from Iran. Morphological descriptions, along with diagnostic features, photographs, ecological notes, and distributional data, are provided for both species. These findings contribute significantly to understanding moss diversity in the Hyrcanian region and the Iranian moss flora, for which the authors recommend targeted surveys in adjacent Hyrcanian habitats and the inclusion of this species in regional floristic checklists to clarify its distribution and conservation status.

Keywords

Article Title [Persian]

نخستین گزارش از خزه‌هایDicranum fulvum وLeucobryum juniperoideum در شمال ایران

Authors [Persian]

  • محدثه مقصودی 1
  • حمید اجتهادی 1
  • امید اسماعیل زاده 2
  • حبیب زارع 3
1 آزمایشگاه تحقیقات کمی اکولوژی گیاهی و تنوع‌زیستی، گروه زیست‌شناسی، دانشکده علوم، دانشگاه فردوسی مشهد، مشهد، ایران
2 گروه علوم و مهندسی جنگل، دانشکده منابع طبیعی و علوم دریایی، دانشگاه تربیت مدرس، تهران، ایران.
3 باغ گیاه‌شناسی نوشهر، موسسه تحقیقات جنگل‌ها و مراتع، سازمان تحقیقات، آموزش و ترویج کشاورزی ، تهران، ایران
Abstract [Persian]

خزه‌هایDicranum fulvum  وLeucobryum juniperoideum  گزارش‌های جدیدی از ایران هستند که هر دو در یک توده آمیخته راش خزری (Fagus caspica) و سرخدار معمولی (Taxus baccata) در منطقه گزو در جنگل‌های هیرکانی مرکزی شهرستان سوادکوه، (استان مازندران، شمال ایران) کشف شده‌اند. Dicranum fulvum یک خزه پوست‌نشین است که با برگ‌های باریک و شکننده‌اش در هنگام خشک شدن مجعد و خمیده و در هنگام مرطوب شدن داسی‌شکل با نوک تیز و سلول‌های لایه بالایی دو لایه مشخص می‌گردد. Leucobryum juniperoideum یک خزه چوب‌نشین که روی چوب مرده یافت می‌شود و رنگ پریده تا سبز کم‌رنگ مایل به سفید دارای رگبرگ میانی متمایز است و با وجود سلول‌های غیرکلروفیلوز و سلول‌های کلروفیلوز مشخص می‌شود. این نخستین گزارش از Leucobryaceae از ایران است. توصیف ریخت‌شناختی دقیق، ویژگی‌های تشخیصی، عکس‌ها، یادداشت‌های بوم‌شناسی و داده‌های پراکندگی برای هر دو گونه ارائه شده است. این یافته‌ها به‌طور قابل توجهی به درک تنوع خزه‌ها در منطقه هیرکانی و فلور خزه‌ای ایران کمک می‌کند. بررسی‌های هدفمند در زیستگاه‌های مجاور هیرکانی و گنجاندن این گونه در چک لیست­های فلوریستیک منطقه‌ای برای روشن شدن پراکندگی و وضعیت حفاظتی آن توصیه می‌شود.

Keywords [Persian]

  • پوست‌نشین
  • جنگل‌های هیرکانی
  • چوب‌نشین
  • فلور خزه‌ای ایران
  • Dicranum
  • Leucobryum

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History

  • Receive Date: 17 December 2025
  • Revise Date: 30 May 2026
  • Accept Date: 15 June 2026

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