Bryophytes possess a key position in land plant evolution and hold the link between green algal ancestors and vascular plants. Bryophytes comprise the most diverse and species rich group of land plants after flowering plants. The most recent classification includes bryophytes in three phyla: Marchantiophyta (liverworts), Bryophyta (mosses) and Anthocerotophyta (hornworts). Bryophyte flora of Sri Lanka is poorly researched and does not contribute much to its biodiversity figures. Therefore, a preliminary survey was carried out in the Central Province of Sri Lanka to aid future bryological research in the country. This ongoing survey has identified 15 liverworts, 27 mosses and 2 hornworts, with 12 new species records in Sri Lanka.

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Bryophytes; liverworts, mosses and hornworts, comprise an important yet poorly researched group of plants in Sri Lanka. Varied climate and topography of the island provide ample habitat diversity for bryophytes. However, the diversity and species richness of the three morphological groups of bryophytes within the country are yet to be discovered. Kanneliya Forest Reserve, a prominent lowland rain forest in the wet zone of Sri Lanka has been a base for much scientific research on both flora and fauna. However, the bryophyte flora within the forest, apart from a few old collections remains unexplored. The present study was undertaken to explore the moss flora of the Kanneliya Forest Reserve and serves as the first taxonomic study on mosses in the forest. Mosses were collected from different habitats of the forest, along with the substrate. They were stored in paper packets labeled with the locality details. Collected samples were observed for their morphological and anatomical characters, using dissecting, light and stereo microscopes. Specimens were identified to their generic/specific level using taxonomic keys, monographs and other available literature. A total of 68 specimens of mosses were collected from different habitats within the forest and 45 specimens were identified to their generic and/or specific level. The moss flora of the Kanneliya Forest Reserve represented 13 families and 21 genera of mosses. Taxonomic descriptions with the characteristic features were prepared for the identified species of mosses. Herbarium specimens prepared for each identified species are deposited at the Department of Botany, University of Peradeniya.

Bryophytes (liverworts, mosses and hornworts) are the closest living relatives of the first group of plants that successfully colonized land. This small but well-established group of plants is unique among other land plants in having a dominant gametophyte phase in their life cycle and a single unbranched sporophyte that depends on the dominant gametophyte plant. Bryophytes occur throughout the world in all continents, occupying an assortment of habitats, especially in moist shady places. Many species have broad geographic ranges that may span two or more continents. Dispersal of bryophytes is brought about by spores, vegetative propagules or by unspecialized fragments of the gametophyte.The bryophyte flora of Sri Lanka remains relatively poorly researched. According to checklists available, the Island harbours 560 mosses, 327 liverworts and five hornworts. Most of the collecting has been in the southern half of the country, especially in the Central Highlands. Exact locality details are missing for most of these specimens. There is no documentation for moss or liverwort Flora of Sri Lanka. Lack of a thorough taxonomic foundation is a major impediment to study the biogeography of Sri Lankan bryophytes. O'Shea (2003) presented a summary of current knowledge of biogeography of Sri Lankan mosses. According to his statistical analysis based on existing records Sri Lankan mosses show strong relationships with India, Indochina, and Malaysia but a much lower affinity with Africa.Here we conducted a similar study for liverworts and hornworts using Kroeber's percentage of similarity, which suggests that Sri Lankan liverworts and hornworts show a considerable similarity with those of Java, Malaysia, Thailand, and India. However, more and wider systematic field explorations and taxonomic studies are needed to understand the biogeography of Sri Lankan bryophytes. To address this, field explorations and phylogenetic studies are being carried out, and the results will contribute to elucidate the biogeographic affinities of Sri Lanka's bryophyte flora.

Sri Lanka is a tropical island and lies in the Indian Ocean, near the southwestern tip of India sharing the same continental shelf. The island has a highly varied climate and topography, spanning from coastal region and lowlands with a tropical climate to central highlands with a cool temperate climate. Sri Lanka harbours a rich diversity of bryophytes. The aim of this study was to trace the species richness patterns and phytogeographic affinites of Sri Lankan thalloid liverworts and hornworts. The analysis is based on comprehensive field excursions carried out throughout the island covering all possible geographic localities. Distribution patterns were deduced for each taxon reported and phytogeographic affinities were traced on the basis of its present worldwide distribution. Their distribution patterns were compared with the floristic regions recognized for flowering plants of Sri Lanka. A variation in the species diversity and pattern of aggregation of species in different climatic and topographic zones was observed. Central Highlands in the wet and intermediate zones, represented the center of diversity of almost all reported taxa. Thalloid liverworts and hornworts are distributed in all floristic regions recognized for angiosperms, except in the coastal, marine and dry zone floristic regions. Zones of highest taxonomic diversity or "hotspots", have been inferred for taxa encountered in the island. Seventy five percent of all thalloid liverworts and hornworts reported from Sri Lanka are shared with the Western Ghats of India and 90% of taxa are shared with mainland India.

As part of a study initiated to trace the evolutionary relationships and biogeographic affinities of Sri Lankan complex thalloid liverworts, we here present the morphological diversity of Sri Lankan complex thalloid liverworts. This serves as the first detailed taxonomic study of the group in Sri Lanka. Specimens were collected from different geographical regions covering almost all topographic and climatic zones of the country. This study revealed 9 genera of complex thalloid liverworts in Sri Lanka. Based on our collections and identifications we prepared a generic key to Sri Lankan complex thalloid liverworts. Taxonomic descriptions were prepared for all identified genera.

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