Metzgeriaceae

Metzgeria furcata

The Metzgeriaceae are the only family of the order of Metzgeriales, a group of mosses with easy- finished buildings thallus, which comprises around 100 species in four genera.

The Metzgeriaceae are found worldwide, but have their main distribution in the tropics and subtropics.

Features

The thalli are linear and have a distinct midrib and einzellschichtige Thallusflügel. A central strand is missing. On Thallusrand often find unicellular hairs. Oil bodies are absent or small. The gametangia are formed on short, specific branches. The calyptra is elongated, fleshy and hairy. A Pseudoperianth missing. The Seta is short. The sporangium is round to oval. It opens with four slots.

System

Your name goes back to the Heidelberg garden director Johann Christian Metzger, after which the genus is named Metzgeria. The family includes five genera, all of which are very poor in species up to Metzgeria:

• Metzgeria ~ 100 species
• Apometzgeria 2 styles Apometzgeria pubescens

• Austrometzgeria saccata

• Vandiemenia ratkowskiana

Dissemination

The species of the order are found worldwide from the polar regions to the tropics. Your greatest diversity they achieve, however, in the subtropics and tropics.