Abstract
BACKGROUND: China is rich in bryophyte diversity, many of which have wide-ranging applications, such as ornamental and medicinal uses. With the rise of online trading platforms, the e-commerce trade of bryophytes has become increasingly prevalent. This study aimed to document the diversity and uses of bryophytes sold on Chinese e-commerce platforms. METHODS: We conducted a 1-year investigation (October 2022-October 2023) on the Taobao platform, China's most popular online marketplace. Data on the bryophyte trade were collected using Octopus (v8.6.4) (A web data collection software) scraping combined with manual browsing. We analyzed the trade patterns and purchased bryophytes from 153 suppliers. The collected bryophyte samples were identified, and their species diversity, life forms, traditional uses, and emerging applications were documented. RESULTS: From 1081 fresh bryophyte samples collected, we identified 201 species (including 2 subspecies) belonging to 98 genera and 55 families. Calohypnum plumiforme, Thuidium cymbifolium, and Hypnum leptothallum were the three most frequently traded species. Mat, weft, and tuft were the predominant life forms, which are also the primary types used for ornamental scenes and bedding material. Among these bryophytes, 196 species are marketed for ornamental purposes. Specifically, 182 species have been promoted for applications, including courtyard landscaping, bonsai decorations, micro-landscaping decorations, and rainforest terrariums/paludariums. Fourteen aquatic bryophyte species, marketed as mosses (Mo Si), were used for aquarium landscaping. In addition to traditional applications such as courtyard landscaping and bonsai, micro-landscape modeling and rainforest terrariums/paludariums have emerged as new, widely adopted scenes, with micro-landscapes being the most common. Twelve species were marketed exclusively as horticultural/reptile bedding material. Nine species were identified as facilitators of Chinese gallnut (Wu Bei Zi) production, and thirty-eight species have direct medicinal uses. However, bryophytes marketed explicitly for medicinal use or gallnut promotion are uncommon in the online trade; only Rhodobryum giganteum was found to be sold for medicinal purposes. Crucially, 185 species (92.04%) were found to be sourced wholly or partially from the wild. Among these, Leucobryum juniperoideum and Sphagnum multifibrosum, listed as National Grade II Protected Plants on the List of National Key Protected Wild Plants in China, were identified. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides the first exploration of bryophyte diversity and the interplay between traditional and emerging applications within the context of online trade platforms in China, which offers valuable supplementary data for ethnobryological research globally. Furthermore, the findings highlight significant challenges and underscore the need for recommendations concerning the conservation of bryophyte diversity, particularly for species with extensive traditional uses and novel applications that are thriving in emerging trade environments.