CHECK LIST OF IRAQI BRYOFLORA

Abstract

The pioneer contributions included a sign for Iraqi Bryoflora were those of (Juratzka &
Milde) and Schiffner published at the end of the 19th century i.e. (1870 & 1897) respectively.
However, throughout the whole next century, the 20th, only few papers, by different authors,
have been published separately. They are Schiffner (1913); Handel-Mazzetti (1914); Froelich
(1959); Vondracek (1962 & 1965); Agnew &Townsend (1970); Agnew ( 1973 ) ; Agnew&
Vondracek (1975); Long (1979); Al-Ni’ma (1994). The most comprehensive work among
them was the “Moss Flora of Iraq” by Agnew & Vondracek (1975). It included a description
of 54 genera and 145 species with an identification key in addition to notes on the climate,
topography and soil of the country. This flora is of a great scientific value. It forms a major
basic source of information not only about Iraq flora but for adjacent regions also.
Some of these researchers deposited their specimen as follows: Agnew in Baghdad
University Herbarium and British Museum, Vondracek in Baghdad University Herbarium,
Handle-Mazzetti at Natural History Museum in Vienna and Al-Ni’ma in the Herbarium of the
College of Science, Mosul University.
In the end of the 20th century, the idea has come ot unify the previously recorded taxa in a
single issue to be available for the next generation in the beginning of the new century.