Timmia
Timmia megapolitana
Timmia is a genus of mosses and forms its own subclass Timmiidae. The genus is named after the German botanist Joachim Christian Timm ( 1734-1805 ).
Features
The types are similar in habit of the genus Polytrichum, and are therefore quite large (two to nine inches high ), akrokarpe mosses. The leaves are lanceolate to linear and are arranged spirally. They consist of lineal, smooth or papillose cells at the base and of small, square and hexagonal cells at the top. The leaf margin is serrated. The midrib ends before the tip, but extends over half of the sheet out.
The capsule is on a long seta and is ovoid and nodding or hanging. The calyptra is symmetrical. The peristome is double with 16 teeth.
Occurrence
The family is found in the northern hemisphere, but is also found in Hawaii and New Zealand. There are ground-based or steinbewachsende mosses. In Europe, they are rare.
System
The genus is placed in a separate sub-class and consists of six species. Five are found in Europe, which are native species in Germany:
- Timmia austriaca
- Timmia bavarica
- Timmia megapolitana
- Timmia norvegica