Wetland bryophytes in Muddus National Park, North Sweden

Abstract

In the 1940s the Muddus National Park (MNP) just above the Arctic Circle in North Sweden and in typical taiga country was investigated for its mires and, to a smaller extent, other wetlands. The large bryophyte collections made then were worked upon only much later. Later, von Krusenstjerna published a bryophyte flora of southernmost MNP and several other botanists registered bryophytes, partly unpublished. The wetland localities in this additional material are included in our list.

The mires of Muddus range from ombrotrophic bogs to poor, intermediate and rich fens and are in some localities very rich in bryophytes – up to 66 species despite the absence of calcareous biotopes. The bryophyte flora of the entire MNP, including dry habitats, comprises at least some 370 taxa, of which about 250 occur in wetlands. Beside many northern species, there are only a few southern ones. The western Sphagnum denticulatum should be mentioned, as well as Lophozia rutheana var. laxa which is new to Sweden.