Leptodontaceae | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Leptodon smithii | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Division: | Bryophyta |
Class: | Bryopsida |
Subclass: | Bryidae |
Order: | Hypnales |
Family: | Leptodontaceae Schimper, W.Ph., 1856. Corollarium Bryologiae Europaeae 98. |
Leptodontaceae is a family of mosses belonging to the order Hypnales. [1] There are 3 genera with a worldwide distribution.
Most of the genera of family Leptodontaceae, originally came from family Neckeraceae, [2] Such as Caduciella came into Leptodontaceae in 1991. [3]
It originally comprised Alsia, Forsstroemia, and Leptodon. Recently described or relocated genera in the family include CaduciellaEnroth, CryptoleptodonRenauld & Cardot, and TaiwanobryumNoguchi (J. Enroth 1992). [4] Molecular evidence indicates that this small family may not be monophyletic. [2] [5]
Family Leucodontaceae now contain Forsstroemia and Alsia. [6] Although some sources note that they are back within the Neckeraceae family. [7] Later Cryptoleptodon moved into family Pterobryaceae, [8] and Taiwanobryum moved into family Prionodontaceae. [9]
The plants are medium sized, forming loose tufts, dark green to yellow green. Corticolous (growing on bark) or saxicolous (growing on rock). The secondary stems are erect, sometimes incurved when dry and generally pinnately branched. The branches are in single plane, they have pseudoparaphyllia (the trichome-like or foliose structures on moss stem surfaces). [10]
They are defined by the combination of epiphytic habit, branching pattern of clusters of branches alternate with unbranched intervals bearing inflorescences, double sporophytic phenological cycle in which two cohorts of sporophytes mature simultaneously with embryos overwintering, subfoliose pseudoparaphyllia, cucullate calyptrae, sheathing post-fertilization perichaetial leaves (the leafy involucre surrounding the fruit stalk), central strands lacking in shoots, shortened setae (bristles), no annuli, and an exostome (the outer ring of peristome teeth) that flexes open when moist and flexes inward when dry (hydrocastique), thus serving to disperse spores during wet periods. [2]
Figures in brackets are how many species per genus
Lepidoziaceae is a family of leafy liverworts. It is a group of small plants that are widely distributed.
The Bryopsida constitute the largest class of mosses, containing 95% of all moss species. It consists of approximately 11,500 species, common throughout the whole world.
Ambuchanania leucobryoides is the only species in the monotypic genus Ambuchanania. It is a Sphagnum-like moss endemic to Tasmania. Originally described as a species of Sphagnum, it is now a separate genus named after the original collector Alex M. Buchanan, (b.1944) an Australian botanist from the Tasmanian Herbarium in Hobart,. A. leucobryoides differs from the family Sphagnaceae in having elongate antheridia. It is entirely restricted to south-west Tasmania's Wilderness World Heritage Area where it occurs on white Precambrian quartzitic sand deposited by alluvial flows, and on margins of buttongrass sedge land. Species most commonly found in association with A. leucobryoides include: Leptocarpus tenax, Chordifex hookeri, and Actinotus suffocatus. Currently, A. leucobryoides is listed as rare under the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995.
Hypnales is the botanical name of an order of Bryophyta or leafy mosses. This group is sometimes called feather mosses, referring to their freely branched stems. The order includes more than 40 families and more than 4,000 species, making them the largest order of mosses.
Neckeraceae is a moss family in the order Hypnales. There are about 200 species native to temperate and tropical regions. Most grow on rocks, or other plants.
Dawsonia superba is a moss in the family Polytrichaceae that is found in Australia, New Guinea, Malaysia and New Zealand. D. superba is the tallest self-supporting moss in the world, reaching heights of 60 cm (24 in). It has analogous structures to those in vascular plants that support large size, including hydroid and leptoid cells to conduct water and photosynthate, and lamellae that provide gas chambers for more efficient photosynthesis. D. superba is a member of the class Polytrichopsida, although it has a sporophyte that is unique from other hair-cap mosses.
Splachnaceae is a family of mosses, containing around 70 species in 6 genera. Around half of those species are entomophilous, using insects to disperse their spores, a characteristic found in no other seedless land plants.
Brachytheciaceae is a family of mosses from the order Hypnales. The family includes over 40 genera and 250 species.
Sphagnum papillosum, the papillose peatmoss, is a species of peat moss distributed throughout the northern hemisphere. Although sometimes confused with Sphagnum imbricatum and Sphagnum palustre, it is distinguished by its yellow-green to brown short, blunt branches and papillose chlorophyllose cells.
Orthotrichum lyellii, also known as Lyell's bristle moss, is a species of acrocarpous moss belonging to the family Orthotrichaceae. O. lyellii can be found throughout western North America and Europe. It is found most commonly growing epiphytically on a variety of trees, and less commonly on rocks or boulder substrates.
Alleniella is a genus of mosses belonging to the family Neckeraceae.
Schljakovia is a monotypic genus of liverworts belonging to the family Anastrophyllaceae. The only known species is Schljakovia kunzeana.
Dicranella is a genus of moss belonging to the family Dicranaceae. The genus was first described by Karl Müller. It has a cosmopolitan distribution.
Hypnum is a genus of mosses belonging to the family Hypnaceae.
Bryolawtonia is a monotypic genus of mosses belonging to the family Neckeraceae. It only contains one known species, Bryolawtonia vancouveriensisNorris & Enroth, 1990
Polytrichum piliferum, the bristly haircap, is an evergreen perennial species of moss in the family Polytrichaceae. The bristly haircap moss is small-sized to medium-sized and forms loose tufts with wine-reddish stems. It is an acrocarpous moss that appears bluish-green to grey. This moss grows in clumps on erect shoots and becomes a red-brown colour as it grows older. The most distinguishing feature of P. piliferum is the long, white awn at the tips of the leaves, which also give this moss its grey colour. It is the only species in its genus where the awn is completely hyaline.
Andreaea blyttii, also commonly known as Blytt's rock moss, is a moss belonging to the family Andreaeaceae, commonly known as rock moss, granite moss, or lantern moss because of this family's unique sporangium. It is part of the genus Andreaea which is known for forming dark brownish or reddish-black carpets in high elevations. This species was first described by Schimper in 1855.
Sphagnum contortum is a species of moss reported in North America and Europe. NatureServe marked its global conservation status as Secure.
Luisierella is a genus of mosses belonging to the family Timmiellaceae.
Ditrichum plumbicola, also known as lead moss, is a moss species known for growing in lead rich soils. It was formally described by Alan Crundwell in 1976.