Neckeraceae
Neckera crispa
The Neckeraceae are a family of mosses.
Description
It is pleurokarpe mosses. The special characteristic of the mosses of the family within the order is the position of the leaflets. While these are spirally grow on stems, but are rotated so that the leaf surfaces all lie in one plane. This results in a seemingly two-line, flat Beblätterung. Through this habit, the individual leaflets are often asymmetrical.
A midrib may be present or not. Rarely there is a double rib. In each case, the rib stop long before the blade tip. The cells of the leaf surface are oval ( short to long ) and always smooth, not papillose. The leaf blades are not particularly differentiated cells.
The capsule is upright oval to long oval. The Peristom consists of two rows of teeth and 16 teeth, the inner Peristomreihe is often shorter than the outer, sometimes even almost completely reduced. The calyptra is cap-shaped asymmetrical.
Most species of the family form extended, extensive, often very glossy grass. Many species reproduce vegetatively by the formation of flagella.
Distribution and habitat requirements
The Neckeraceae are common in the tropics and in temperate regions worldwide. They usually grow on bark or on stone.
Genera and species
The Neckeraceae are placed in the order Hypnales. The family consists of 31 genera and approximately 335 species. In Europe, the following three occur:
- Homalia Homalia trichomanoides
- Neckera complanata
- Neckera crispa