Intra-Specific Differentiation within the Cosmopolitan Moss Species Funaria hygrometrica Hedw.

Differentiation was found between populations of Funaria hygro- metrica originating in various geographic-climatic regions when grown together experimentally. Of the morphological and cytological characters examined, spore size showed a significant inter-population variation with geographical correlations. An inter-regional differentiation was found in phenological-physiological traits, including reaction to day-length. The adaptational significance of these characters for the formation of a cosmopolitan species is evaluated. The wide geographical distribution of bryophytes, at the levels of genus and species,