Plagiothecium handelii is newly recorded for Europe (Austria and Romania) and eastern North America (Tennessee, USA). This dainty species was previously known only from Yunnan and Sichuan Provinces, China. Morphologically, the disjunctive populations belong to a single species. A 27-taxon phylogeny of Plagiothecium based on nuclear ITS and plastid rpl16 intron DNA sequence data resolved Austrian and Chinese populations of P. handelii as sisters, in a clade with P. paleaceum, a julaceous Himalayan species with cochleariform leaves. In contrast, P. handelii is a filiform plant with distant, ovate-acuminate leaves. In sequence identity the three terminals have a similar level of variation, suggesting that the geographic disjunction between the two populations of P. handelii is quite old. Morphologically and genetically the clade is a well defined lineage (Ortholimnobium) that is transitional between Plagiothecium s.str. and Struckia. The new combinations O. paleaceum and O. handelii are made. In Europe, O. handelii should be classified as vulnerable.

Allelopathy in bryophytes shapes ecosystems by influencing the species composition of both vascular plants and other bryophytes. Several allelopathically active chemicals in bryophytes have been discovered since the latter half of the 20th century and laboratory studies have showed their inhibiting impact on germination, growth and establishment of surrounding plants. However, other studies failed to demonstrate these effects. In the field, other properties of bryophytes might have stronger impacts, such as mechanical obstruction or alterations in temperature. In laboratory studies, water might not be an adequate extractant for active substances, since all of the chemicals claimed to be allelopathic are lipophilic with potentially longer retention times of the active substances in the soil when compared to water-soluble substances.

One of the three lineages found within Oncophorus wahlenbergii Brid. in a recent revision of Scandinavian Oncophorus is explored in detail. Consistent and well-supported nuclear ITS and plastid trnG and rps4 signals for a total of eight specimens belonging to this lineage, and the possibility to recognize its members by morphology, support recognition of Oncophorus demetrii (Renauld & Cardot) Hedenäs, comb. nov. (Dicranum demetrii Renauld & Cardot). This species differs from members of the other two O. wahlenbergii lineages by its more longly and narrowly acuminate leaves, projecting cell walls in the upper leaf margins, and the excurrent costa being rough from projecting cells or cell walls. Contrary to members of the other two O. wahlenbergii lineages, O. demetrii seems to prefer base-rich habitats. Outside Scandinavia, it is at present known from Labrador in Canada. Oncophorus compactus (Bruch & Schimp.) Kindb. is considered a synonym of O. wahlenbergii since Dicranum homannii Boeck, a synonym of O. wahlenbergii, was cited as a synonym of Dicranumvirens var. compactum Bruch & Schimp. when the latter was described.

I describe the production and the application of a low-tech, easy-to-handle sectioning aid, which might be helpful for everyone who struggles with cross sectioning bryophytes. Technical plans and an instructional video are provided as supplementary material.

Peatmosses are interesting for studies of speciation processes not only because of their frequent hybridization and recent diversification, but also their phenotypic diversity, ecological importance and ancient history. Diverse and widespread hybridization has been widely documented in the genus, but little is known about what factors underlie this phenomenon. We hypothesize that these factors include phylogenetic distance and variation in life-history traits of parental species. We summarize current knowledge about the occurrence of hybridization in peatmosses and explore how it is associated with phylogenetic distance and life-history trait variation of parental species. Possibly as much as one out of five (or more) peatmoss species hybridize, mostly producing allopolyploid hybrids. Parents of admixed haploids are more closely related to each other than parents of allopolyploids. Hybridization seems to be most frequent in 1) monoicous and polyoicous species exhibiting 2) relatively high sporulation frequency, 3) producing relatively small spores, as well as 4) growing in poor habitats. Surprisingly, neither phylogenetic proximity nor life-history trait variation explain patterns of hybridization in peatmosses, and other likely explanations for patterns observed are discussed.

During field investigations of semi-natural habitats of the city of Podgorica and its vicinity, the aquatic moss, Fissidensfontanus was found in the rivers Sitnica and Cijevna. This is the first report of the species from Montenegro. The species grows together with Fissidens crassipes and Fontinalis antypiretica, which are common mosses in the Montenegrin rivers. At the Balkan Peninsula, Fissidens fontanus is also known from Bulgaria, Greece and Romania.

Two Dutch populations of Buxbaumia aphylla (Nunspeet and Elspeet) were studied for two generations (2014–2015 and 2015–2016). At both sites the number and developmental stages of sporophytes were frequently recorded and sporophyte maturity indices and survival rates were determined. The timing of sporophyte development was similar between the two generations but differed between the growth sites with earlier sporophyte development at Nunspeet. The growth sites are located close to each other and share the same climate and soil characteristics. The growth site at Nunspeet, however, is shaded and consequently a higher soil moisture early in the season might explain early sporophyte development. Sporophyte survival was extremely low, especially at Nunspeet (0.4% and 0.9% in 2014–2015 and 2015–2016 respectively) due to fungi and, possibly, slugs and birds.

Five epiphyllous liverwort species, all members of the family Lejeuneaceae, are newly reported from Tianmushan National Nature Reserve, Zhejiang Province, China. The locality constitutes the northernmost occurrence of epiphyllous bryophytes in eastern China. It is proposed that the establishment of the epiphyllous species in the reserve was the result of a recent dispersal event influenced by climate warming. The site where the species occur is increasingly impacted by ecotourism and forest ecology teaching. Limitation of teaching at the site, reduction of the number of trails and stricter conservation is recommended in order to protect the fragile local epiphyllous community.

Three species of leafy liverworts are reported new to Sri Lanka: Heteroscyphus planus (Mitt.) Schiffn. (Lophocoleaceae), Drepanolejeunea tricornua Herzog (Lejeuneaceae) and Ceratolejeunea cornuta (Lindenb.) Steph. (Lejeuneaceae). Taxonomic descriptions are provided along with figures. Addition of the three new records increases the total number of leafy liverworts of Sri Lanka from 287 to 290.