The mosses of sub-Saharan Africa 1. A review of taxonomic progress

Abstract

Reviews in the 1970s concluded that African moss taxonomy was in a poor state. A comparison is made between the position then and that of today, using examples of recent taxonomic revisions. It is projected that the eventual number of moss taxa in the area may be reduced from over 3000 taxa to around 1300 if a full taxonomic revision is completed. Collecting activity has been greater in recent years, and is continuing. The need for further collecting and a dramatic increase in taxonomic work is emphasised.