Dawsonia (plant)

Dawsonia superba

Dawsonia is a moss - genus of the family of Polytrichaceae, which is sometimes also set up as a separate family.

Description

One finds in them a very strong differentiation of the tissue: a central strand in the middle of the stems is always present, so that the plants can be very high. The largest Moose with a height of up to 70cm are in this order.

During the gametophyte is very similar to the Polytrichaceae, the capsules of the sporophyte are dorsiventral and the peristome is bristles or brush-like. Forming the spores smallest mosses with six to ten microns. The spores are propagated by raindrops: if they fall on the flat top of the capsule, the spores are ejected from the capsule.

Dawsonia superba is high to 50 inches, as well as the domestic Polytrichum commune. Since D. superba has much larger leaves, it is generally considered the largest moss of the earth.

Occurrence

Dawsonia is widespread in Australia and Southeast Asia, where they can form extensive stocks, similar to some representatives of the Polytrichales in Europe.

System

The genus includes about ten species, including:

• Dawsonia superba