Aim Our aims were: to determine the evolutionary origin of the single‐island endemic moss Orthotrichum handiense ; to assess whether its endemicity results from a recent origin or founder event, a loss of dispersal ability, specific habitat requirements, or contraction of a formerly wider range; and to make predictions about its ability to face ongoing climate change. Location Fuerteventura, Canary Islands. Methods The evoluti...

Aim In contrast to angiosperms, bryophytes do not appear to have radiated in Macaronesia and the western Mediterranean. We evaluate if: (1) the apparent lack of radiation in bryophytes reflects our failure to recognize cryptic endemic species; (2) bryophytes are characterized by extremely low evolutionary rates; or (3) bryophytes have a high dispersal ability, which prevents genetic isolation. Location Worldwide, with a specia...