The diethyl ether extracts from thirteen moss species have been analyzed by GC/MS and tventy-nine different components have been identified or tentatively identified. Sandaracopimaradiene, dihydroambrettolide, /3-tocopherol and methyl 2,4-dihydroxy-3,6-dimethyl benzoate are detected for the first time in bryophytes, but a fungal or lichenic origin of the last compound cannot be excluded. /3-Bisabolene, a-curcumene, 8-cuparenol and /3-acoradiene are reported for the first time from mosses. The

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... esent data suggest chemical relationships between species classified in two different genera: Mnium stellare, Plagiomnium affine, P. ellipticum and possibly P. elatum. The high content of diterpenoids or saturated fatty acids (as esters if they are genuine components) respectively in Plagiomnium cuspidatum or Pseudobryum cinclidioides could indicate the isolated chemical positions of both species among the Mniaceae family, in which the section Plagiomnium of the corresponding genus (P. acutum, P. cuspidatum) is provisionally considered to be more homogeneous than the others. The genus Rhizomnium whose chemical affinities suggested by the occurrence of two hopenes are in good accordance with those suggested by the distribution of flavonoids, seems to be chemically less polymorphic than the genera Mnium or Plagiomnium, except in section Plagiomnium.