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Plant Science Today (PST)

Research Articles

Vol. 13 No. 3 (2026)

Bryofloristic account of the genus Riccia L. from Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat

DOI
https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.13832
Submitted
26 January 2026
Published
23-09-2026 — Updated on 30-09-2026
Versions

Abstract

The plant genus Riccia L. comprises a highly diverse group of complex thalloid liverworts and accounts for a substantial share of bryophyte diversity. However, the literature indicates that Riccia liverworts are widely distributed but little is known about Riccia species from semi-arid environments of western India. In this context, this study aims at contributing to the national knowledge repository by carrying out detailed investigation of diversity, habitat preferences, spatial patterns and altitudinal variations of Riccia species in the Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary, Gujarat. Surveys were carried out at sixteen selected locations using a systematic sampling design and covered all sampling sites during the monsoon seasons of 2022 and 2023. The diversity of Riccia in the study area comprises five species, such as Riccia billardieri Mont. & Nees.,
Riccia cavernosa Hoffm., Riccia discolor Lehm. & Lindenb., Riccia gangetica Ahmad ex L. Söderstr., A. Hagborg & von Konrat. and Riccia grollei Udar. Among these recorded species, R. cavernosa, R. discolor and R. grollei are reported for the first time from the study area. Rupicolous, terricolous and saxicolous habitat types are highly dominant, indicating Riccia diversity and importance of soil-based and lithophilous environments for Riccia colonisation. Riccia species richness was found at lower altitudinal slopes (100–400 m) followed by a decline at mid-altitudinal slopes and then a slight increase at higher altitudinal slopes. This study highlights the Bryofloristic significance of Girnar Wildlife Sanctuary and emphasises the role of microhabitat heterogeneity and altitudinal gradients which indicating Riccia diversity. These findings contribute valuable baseline data for bryophyte conservation and future ecological assessment in semi-arid regions of India.

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