Jinping Fenshuiling, a National Nature Reserve lies along the Sino-Vietnamense boarder, is well-known for its plant biodiversity due to well-protected subtropical evergreen forest ranging from 990 meters to 3,070 meters. Taking bryophytes for instance, over 25% of species in Yunnan were documented in this reserve that occupies only 0.11% of the provincial area. 

The 505-figured book, Field Guide to the Bryophytes of Jinping Fenshuiling, Yunnan, written by Dr. MA Wenzhang from the Kunming Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, was based on material that obtained from seven field-collecting trips in the reserve from 2015 to 2019.  

Among the 523 species of bryophytes reported in the reserve, 226 species of 154 genera, 72 families with colored plates were selected to exemplify the bryophyte diversity.  

Besides field shots, more than 80% of the taxa were further illustrated with microscopic images showing diagnostic features, and accompanied with a brief description and discussion were presented in both Chinese and English. All species (except Herpetineuron toccoae) in the book were cited with corresponding voucher specimens for additional research. 

The inclusion of species that are less commonly encountered elsewhere such as Bryocrumia vivicolor, Cololejeunea pluridentata, Cryptogonium dubium, Daltonia apiculata and Zoopsis liukiuensis showcased the uniqueness and healthiness of the habitats in the reserve, will assist enthusiasts to recognize them in the field. 

Meanwhile, for non-professinals, Anomobryum nitidum, Bazzania tridens, Cryptopapillaria fuscescens, Dumortiera hirsuta, as well as other 40 widespread species within the book, will help them to establish a better idea of "what do bryophytes really look like in the field". 

Cover Page (Image by KIB)

Porella perrottetiana (Image by KIB)