Newsletter 2 - August 1991

 

1. Mt. Mulanje Expedition The expedition was very successful, and about 4500 specimens from the four corners of Mount Mulanje (and all points between) are now at Reading University being re-dried and sorted, prior to being returned to the collectors. One parcel of the 25-30 we brought back has still not arrived. A more detailed report will be given later, but a wide range of habitats were visited, from the base of the mountain to the top of Sapitwa, the highest peak (2998m). Collections often were made in ignorance of what we were collecting, but nevertheless, we feel we made a representative collection from most habitats. Constraints of time meant that we were frequently collecting material without first being able to examine it closely; and we may find that the most interesting collections were made when we had time to examine an area thoroughly. We certainly learned a lot about how to organise a group collecting expedition, and were quite surprised at the amount of time and effort it took: it was almost a full time job for one person during the main collecting period, and took several days before and after the main collecting trip to make preparations and organise the return of the specimens. We must thank Shaun Russell for the incredible efforts he put in to keep us all going, and also Cathy and Stephen Temple, who organised our resupplying whilst up the mountain.

2. We hope to arrange a workshop to make the first attack on the collections, preferably with some expert help. We have been fortunate enough to have offers of assistance in confirming identifications: a list will be published, but if anyone is prepared to offer their expertise of a particular group, or to suggest some names, please let Royce Longton or me know. There will be a talk (with slides) on the trip at the September AGM, and there will also be an exhibit at the conversazione.

3. Before we left I was able to complete the first draft of the Provisional List of Malawi Bryophytes, containing about 280 taxa. I received a further list of about 20 new bryophytes from Tamás Pócs on the day before we left, so there is obviously plenty of scope yet for increasing the list. Collections made at the AETFAT conference in April, like those of Tamás Pócs, should add significant numbers.

4. Documents Revised versions of the following documents have been produced:

  • 9 - Membership List. Addition of several new members, removal of Alan Orange, and change of address for Heike Hoffman.
  • 13 - Provisional List of Malawi Bryophytes. Addition of extra moss records, and a first draft of the hepatics list. (Still many records to add - issued as preliminary guidance for Malawi trip.)
  • 14 - Literature for identifying African Bryophytes. I have prepared a new version of Tamás Pócs' quick reference list of literature to identify tropical African bryophytes with all the full references. This has now appeared in Tropical Bryology 4 , but because the editorial process removed the emboldening of the key references, a word-processed version is available to replace the previous version. The original document (without the references) has now been published as an addendum to the Bryologia Africana booklet providing information for potential contributors.
  • 16 - A key to the African species of Campylopus. New. Translation into English by Jan-Peter Frahm of the key in his African Campylopus book. By special request of Robin Stevenson! Robin has also prepared an alternative version with couplets a la Smith, rather than the inset 1, 1* of Frahm. Please state which version you want.

Martin Wigginton is also working on a translation from the original French of Petit's key to the genera of African mosses. When complete, it will be added to this list.

5 Project - volunteer(s) needed There is a collection of some 5000 bryophytes from Uganda and Tanzania, made by Francis Rose in 1961, available for study in the BM. All specimens are numbered, the notebooks are with the collection, and many are named to genus. The collections are from all sorts of habitats from savanna to tropical rainforest and mountain tops. Francis also has his own notes to supplement this. Considering the collector, there are likely to be a number of very interesting specimens. Would anyone like to take this on as a project? It would involve checking the current state of the collection, providing any identifications that are possible, and arranging for experts to confirm identifications.

6. Annual General Meeting Our AGM will take place in Sheffield following the BBS AGM weekend on 14th September. Could I please have any items for the agenda? Also, the TBG has not met as a working party since February last year. If anyone feels there are matters we need to discuss, please let me know and I will arrange a meeting.

7. Next Newsletter Please let me know what you are up to, for the next newsletter, or if you have any experience, advice or ideas to share. And if anyone is looking for something to do, let me know.

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Coordinator: Brian O'Shea

TBG17/news2 28.08.1991

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