Evolution and Speciation in Mosses

Abstract

As the 1957 address of the president of the American Society of Naturalists, this is a general paper. The word "Moss" has been used to include peat mosses, hepatics, hornworts, and the true mosses. Following the restriction of the divisional name, Bryophyta, to the tru mosses, and the upgrading of the former class Hepaticae to the rank of Division, as the Hepatophyta by Bold, 2 further divisions are proposed, the Anthocerophyta for the hornworts, and Sphagnobrya for the peatmosses. Instead of proposing a new name for the Bryophyta in its original comprehensive sense, it is suggested that we refer to these 4 divisions as "Mosses and Moss Allies." The need for further cytological and genetical studies in "mosses" is emphasized.