Terricolous and saxicolous occurrence of Anacamptodon splachnoides (Froel. ex Brid.) Brid. (Amblystegiaceae) in Hungary

On 14 May 2024, a new population of Anacamptodon splachnoides (Froel. ex Brid.) Brid. was found at the base of a large Fagus sylvatica tree on the steep northern bank of Hideg-völgy Creek, in the outskirts of Pécs (Southern Hungary). The discovery is unique for three reasons: i) the site is located at the southern limit of the species’ European range, ii) it is the largest (2900 cm2) colony recorded in Hungary, and iii) instead of a knothole, the moss lives on the soil surface between the topmost root branches in the root flare and on the rock surface below. In this paper, we briefly discuss the conditions under which the species occurs and possible explanations and consequences of this rare phenomenon.