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Background and aims -- In contrast to the flowering plants, the pteridophyte flora of Madagascar is still understudied. While several studies have been published on the eastern and central parts of the island, there are currently few works dedicated to the pteridophytes of southwestern Madagascar. The aim of this work is to increase the knowledge of the pteridophyte flora of the Isalo massif in southwestern Madagascar. It presents a checklist of Isalo's pteridophytes and an analysis of the diversity and distribution patterns of pteridophyte communities across ecological gradients in the eastern canyons of Isalo. Material and methods -- Eighty plots were placed in six canyons. In each plot, pteridophyte species abundance was inventoried, as well as several ecological and geomorphological variables. A census in the field and observations on specimens in herbaria were carried to make a checklist of all the pteridophyte species known for Isalo. Statistical analysis was carried out to understand the pteridophyte diversity and distribution patterns in the Isalo's canyons: (1) exploratory analysis (FAMD and HCPC) highlights the general patterns of ecological gradients, (2) a rarefaction curve was used to compare species diversity, and (3) co-inertia analysis investigated the relationship between ecological gradient and pteridophyte communities. Key results -- In total, 60 species of ferns and lycophytes have been recorded in the massif, including ten endemic species to Madagascar and 11 species reported for the first time in the Isalo massif. Species diversity is especially high in the northern canyons (Anjofo, Andramanero, Antsifotra) in contrast to the middle (Maki and Rats) and southern (Namaza) canyons. Fern distribution patterns were correlated to a combination of environmental factors, highlighting species-specific ecological preferences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plagiochila (Dumort.) Dumort. is one of the largest liverwort genera of Madagascar. A study of the rich Plagiochila holdings from Madagascar kept in the herbaria of Brussels, Eger and Paris leads to the recognition of 22 species, in six sections. One species, P. vandenberghenii Gradst., sp. nov., is new to science and P. bifaria (Sw.) Lindenb., P. macrostachya Lindenb. (synonym: P. granditexta Steph. syn. nov.) and P. simplex (Sw.) Lindenb., all three from the Neotropics, are recorded for the first time from Africa. Madagascar harbors about half of the African Plagiochilas and three species are endemic, P. fracta Pócs, P. sikorae Steph. and P. vandenberghenii Gradst., sp. nov. The high Plagiochila richness of Madagascar is explained by the large tracts on the island of humid tropical montane forest, being the preferred habitat of the genus. East African and Afro-American taxa prevail and four species, P. bifaria, P. macrostachya, P. simplex and P. stricta Lindenb., have a peri-Afro-American range being absent on the African mainland. A key to the Madagassan species of Plagiochila is provided and each species is described and illustrated, with data on types, synonyms, geographical distribution, habitat and differentiating characters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction. Although Madagascar is known for its unique fauna and vascular flora, the country's bryophyte flora in contrast is understudied and under collected. Arising from a bryophyte collecting expedition undertaken in May–June 2016, this paper describes a new species of simple thalloid liverwort, Fossombronia isaloensis, from Madagascar. Methods. Morphological traits across specimens were reviewed and compared with related species. DNA sequence data from rbcL, rps4 and trnL-trnF was obtained from 7 accessions of Fossombronia from Madagascar and 18 other named species of the genus and used to produce a plastid-based phylogeny. Results. DNA sequence data show that Fossombronia isaloensis is not closely related to any other Fossombronia taxon sampled for this study. A description and diagnosis is provided and a type specimen designated for the new species. Conclusions. The bryophyte flora of Madagascar urgently deserves further inventory and taxonomic investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigations into the bryophyte flora of Madagascar as part of the MadBryo project, show that five moss genera (Actinodontium Schwägr., Aulacopilum Wilson, Forsstroemia Lindb., Haplohymenium Dozy & Molk., and Herzogiella Broth.) are new for the island. For three additional taxa we clarify the correct name to use for Malagasy specimens. Ectropothecium perrieri Thér. is placed in synonymy with Herzogiella cylindricarpa (Cardot) Z.Iwats. and Lepidopilum diversifolium Renauld & Cardot is reduced to a synonym of Thamniopsis utacamundiana (Mont.) W.R.Buck. These particular cases highlight the hidden diversity lurking within underutilized natural history collections. They should also serve as a reminder that older collections need to be critically reexamined as our taxonomic concepts evolve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This updated checklist of the bryophytes of Madagascar was compiled from the literature, herbarium and recent collections. A total of 1144 species and infraspecific taxa are recorded for Madagascar composed of 751 mosses, 390 liverworts and 3 hornworts. 28.67% of the species reported for the Island are endemics. Twenty-four taxa are newly recorded for Madagascar and two of them, Fissidens cyathaeicola Brugg.Nann. and Taxithelium nepalense (Schwagr.) Broth, are reported for the first time for the Sub-Saharan Africa region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]