Census Catalogues list – for each species or taxon – the Watsonian vice-counties in which it has been recorded, and are a useful tool for regular recorders. Full catalogues are produced every 10 years or so, but updates are periodically issued in the form of Interim Census Catalogues. All catalogues will be made available on this page, with the latest at the top.
by S.L. Pilkington and N.G Hodgetts, with technical assistance from T.L. Blockeel
The 2023 Census Catalogue updates the printed version from 2021 (see below) with all vice-county records accepted by the end of 2022. It also introduces, for the first time, the distributions of 8 new or revised taxa.
A PDF file of the 2023 Census Catalogue, published June 2023.
Download Census CatalogueThe 2023 Census Catalogue data in spreadsheet format.
Download Census Catalogue databy T.L. Blockeel, N.G. Hodgetts, S.L. Pilkington and O.L. Pescott
The last full catalogue was printed in 2008 (see below) and since then there have been numerous changes to the nomenclature and systematics of our bryophytes, in many cases prompted by molecular studies. Almost 40 mosses and liverworts have also been added to the British and Irish list in the intervening years.
Following the publication of a new bryophyte checklist for Britain and Ireland in 2021, this new edition of the Census Catalogue reflects current bryophyte nomenclature and incorporates the numerous updates to the known distribution of our bryophytes at a local level up to and including 2020. Please note that this initial version of the Census Catalogue does not include new records made during 2021.
The Census Catalogue is available to download here in PDF and spreadsheet format. The PDF is identical to the printed version. The spreadsheet version contains the data from the PDF/printed catalogues, but in a more searchable form. It will periodically be updated as new data becomes available.
For those who prefer a printed copy, it is available as an A5 softback book which can be ordered below.
Please note: in the new Census Catalogue, the entries for the former Telaranea murphyae, now considered a synonym of Tricholepidozia tetradactyla, were not transferred to the latter species. The entries for vice-counties 1, 9 and 11 are therefore missing under T. tetradactyla. They will be formally reinstated in the Liverwort Year report for 2021.
The 2021 Census catalogue, including all records made up to the end of 2020.
Download the Census CatalogueThe 2021 Census Catalogue data in spreadsheet format.
Download the spreadsheetA spreadsheet of the species names included in the 2021 Census Catalogue, with BRC codes.
Download the spreadsheetOrder your printed copy/ies using the PayPal link below (note that payment will be taken immediately), or by completing the attached order form and posting with a cheque, according to the instructions on the form.
The price of the printed Census Catalogue is:
United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland: £9.95 inclusive of postage and packing.
Overseas: Please add an additional £5.00 per copy for delivery (total inc. P&P £14.95).For bulk quantities, please email info@britishbryologicalsociety.org.uk for a price.
Please select your delivery location from the drop down list and click on the PayPal button. You will then be taken to the secure PayPal server where you can specify the quantity you require, and will be asked for your details. Payment can be made by credit or debit card and does not require a PayPal account.
Download order form (postal orders)Details and scans of all Census Catalogues published by the BBS, and prior to this the Moss Exchange Club, are given below with the latest first. Many thanks to Dr Philip Stanley for providing most of these.
This interim Census Catalogue includes additions and amendments compiled 2008-2018, as well as records that had been submitted to the Biological Records Centre but had not been entered to the database in time to prevent their vice-county being signified as an old (pre-1960) record in the printed 2008 Census Catalogue. This version also includes the amendments resulting from preparation of the 2014 BBS Atlas.
This census catalogue was only published online.
Download Census CatalogueThe 2018 Interim Census catalogue data in spreadsheet format
Download the spreadsheetPublisher: British Bryological Society. Paperback, laminated covers. 184 pages.
Printer: Latimer Trend & Co. Ltd., Plymouth
The 2008 Census Catalogue presents a full revision of the classification, nomenclature and vice-county distribution of British and Irish bryophytes. In 304 genera it lists 1056 species (4 hornworts, 297 liverworts, 755 mosses), 7 subspecies and 88 varieties. Genera are arranged in families and orders according to recent global taxonomic arrangements by Crandall-Stotler, Stotler & Long (2008) for liverworts and Goffinet & Buck (2004) for mosses. Nomenclature generally follows the standard British floras of Paton (1999) and Smith (2004). All deviations from the nomenclature of these floras are fully annotated. The 68764 vice-county occurrences correspond to an average 62 records per listed taxon, of which 10% are old (i.e. pre-1960) records. All listed vice-county occurrences correspond to at least one localized record in the BBS database.
The 2008 catalogue is still available to order from the BBS Librarian, see The BBS Library, Sales & Loans
Download Census Catalogue28 pages
Publisher: BBS (Paperback) ISSN: 0142-3169
Printer: Prontaprint, 37a Broadway, Peterborough, Cambridgeshire PE1 1SQ
Download the supplement208 pages, including 20 page index to species
Publisher: BBS (Paperback) (National Museum & Gallery of Wales, Cardiff, CF1 3NP) ISBN: 0-9507639-7-7
Printer: H. Charlesworth & Co. Ltd.
Download Census Catalogue160 pages, including 4 page index to genera
Publisher: BBS (Paperback) (National Museum & Gallery of Wales, Cardiff, CF1 3NP) ISBN: 0 9507639 0 x
Printer: W.S. Maney & Son Ltd., Hudson Road, Leeds LS9 7DL
Download Census Catalogue50 pages, including 1 page index to genera
Publisher: BBS (Paperback). Also available with plain interleaves.
Printer: W.S. Cowell Ltd., Butter Market, Ipswich
Download Census Catalogue86 pages, plus 2 page index to genera
Publisher: BBS (Paperback) Also available with plain interleaves.
Printer: W.S. Cowell Ltd., Butter Market, Ipswich
Download Census Catalogue8 printed sides (only printed on 1 side of each unnumbered sheet, no index).
Publisher: BBS
Printer: Martin’s Printing Works, Ltd., 64 & 66 West Street, Berwick-upon-Tweed
Download Census Catalogue8 printed sides (only printed on 1 side of each unnumbered sheet, no index).
Publisher: BBS
Printer: Martin’s Printing Works, Ltd., 64 & 66 West Street, Berwick-upon-Tweed
Download Census Catalogue6 pages, no index
Publisher: BBS
Printer: Martin’s Printing Works, Ltd., 64 & 66 West Street, Berwick-upon-Tweed
Download the supplement3 pages, no index
Publisher: BBS
Printer: Martin’s Printing Works, Ltd., 64 & 66 West Street, Berwick-upon-Tweed
Download the supplement42 pages, plus 1 page index to genera
Publisher: BBS. Also available with plain interleaves
Printer: Martin’s Printing Works, Ltd., 64 & 66 West Street, Berwick-upon-Tweed
Download Census Catalogue3 pages, no index
Publisher: BBS
Printer: Unknown
Download supplement64 pages, plus 1 page index to genera
Publisher: BBS. Also available with plain interleaves
Printer: Martin’s Printing Works, Ltd., 64 & 66 West Street, Berwick-upon-Tweed
Download Census Catalogue35 pages, plus 1 page index to genera
Publisher: M.E.C. Also available with plain interleaves
Printer: W.H. Western, Printer & Publisher, Darwen
Download Census Catalogue63 pages plus Exchange List, no index
Publisher: M.E.C (paperback) Also available with plain interleaves
Printer: Coultas and Volans, Electric Printing Works, Little Stonegate York
Download Census Catalogue24 pages, including 1 page index to genera
Publisher: M.E.C.
Printer: Coultas and Volans, Electric Printing Works, Little Stonegate York
Download Census Catalogue20 pages, including 1 page index to genera & covers
Printer: V.T. Sumfield, Eastbourne
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