9400996 Allen Although individually small in stature, tropical mosses constitute major portions of forest biomass and provide food and shelter to numerous invertebrate organisms. The taxonomic inventory of mosses and understanding of their genealogical or phylogenetic relationships are at a primitive level, largely because so few scientists study these plants. In a project designed to describe and classify all the mosses of Central America, Dr. Robert Allen of the Missouri Botanical Garden continues with the second phase of a projected four-volume inventory of tropical mosses. An estimated 200-300 species are to be treated, with identification keys, illustrations of diagnostic morphological features, scientific nomenclature, and notes on habitat and geographical distribution for each. Taxonomic description and classification of Central American mosses will provide the foundation for critical ecological and biogeographic studies of the region. The moss flora will be published first in English, then translated into a Spanish edition. Natural history collections at select Central American institutions will be enhanced as well, and information is being databased for eventual electronic transmission.
