Shanghai researchers have discovered a rare moss species in the Taopu Central Green Space in Putuo district during an ongoing citywide biodiversity baseline survey.

Red-fruited moss from the family Bryaceae was sighted by a research team from East China Normal University in May, marking the first recorded instance of this species in Shanghai.

Moss, the second largest category of higher plants, boasts a staggering array of over 20,000 species, second only to flowering plants. Despite their significance as vital components of biodiversity, these structurally simple plants often go unnoticed in urban environments due to their diminutive size and difficulty in identification.

In May, the ECNU research team conducted a meticulous survey and specimen collection of moss plants in the four locations across Putuo district: Liziyuan Park, Mengqingyuan, Taopu Central Green Space, and Changfeng Park. This endeavor led to the discovery of moss plants belonging to 15 families, 22 genera, and 29 species.

The genus Bryaceae, to which the red-fruited moss belongs, exhibits a wide range of variations in its reproductive structures, making it one of the more challenging groups to identify among moss plants. Current research indicates that there are 440 known species of Bryum worldwide, most of which commonly found in hilly terrains, mountains, forest edges, roadsides, and periodically disturbed cultivated lands. China is home to 56 known species of Bryum plants, with the red-fruited moss being a new addition to Shanghai's botanical records.

Source: Jiefang Daily