CHROMOSOME COUNTS IN SOME MOSSES OF IRAN

Cytological information is absolutely lacking for the Iranian moss flora (Bryophytes). The present research, dealing with cytological studies on the following five species (including two expressions and one variety) of Iranian mosses, namely, Amblystegium riparium (Hedw.) B.S.G. “brevipes” expression(n=20), A. riparium (Hedw.) B.S.G. “pennellii” expression (n=9, 9+m, 9+2m), A. serpens (Hedw.) B.S.G. (n=20), Campylium stellatum (Hedw.) C. Jens. in Lange var. protensum (Brid.) Bryhn ex Grout (n=10), Fissidens taxifolius Hedw. (n=12+m) and Orthothecium intricatum (Hartm.) Schimp. in B.S.G. (n=11) is performed for the first time in Iran. The first three species (plus two expressions and one variety) belong to the order Hypnales and the family Amblystegiaceae. O. intricatum is placed in the said order but the family Entodontaceae (according to some authors it is considered under a different family of the same order i.e. Hypnaceae), and lastly, F. taxifolius included in the order Fissidentales and  the family Fissidentaceae.