Terricolous mosses of Mumbai
Gauri Soman
Department of Botany Maharshi Dayanand College Parel, Mumbai-400012 (India) E-mail:drgssoman@rediffmail.com
ABSTRACT
Mosses are highly developed groups of bryophytes having a unique position between lower cryptogams and vascular plants prefering marshy swamps or wetland habitats for their abundant growth. They play an important role in conservation of buffer zones or edges between wetland and forest ecosystems habitats. Mumbai, the capital city of Maharashtra and commercial capital of India is the principal seaport of Western India. It lies in 18o55’ N and 72o54’ E. The climate of this city is warm and humid. It is placed on the North West costal side of Western Ghats.Muddy or marshy areas are found near the coast belt. The present paper highlights diversity of terricolous mosses growing in around Mumbai, with their ecological habitats and growth forms.