| Tetraphis | |
|---|---|
| | |
| Tetraphis pellucida | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Bryophyta |
| Class: | Tetraphidopsida |
| Order: | Tetraphidales |
| Family: | Tetraphidaceae |
| Genus: | Tetraphis Hedw. |
| Species | |
| Synonyms | |
GeorgiaMüller Hal. | |
Tetraphis is a genus of two species of mosses (Bryophyta). Its name refers to its four large peristome teeth.
The sex of Tetraphis shoots can transform depending on the shoot density. When a colony is sparse female—gemmae-producing—shoots dominate. When the colony is sufficiently dense they transform into male shoots. [1]
This density-dependent sexual reproduction strategy is common in fish but Tetraphis is the first moss in which this has been documented. [1]