Plants slender, elongate, in dense tomentose tufts, yellowish green to dark green. Stems 1–6 cm, simple or branched; rhizoids from base to middle of stem forming a conspicuous tomentum. Leaves distichous, linear subula spreading from erect, whitish ovate-lanceolate or oblong sheathing base, margins plane to slightly incurved, becoming denticulate in subula particularly near the apex; costa excurrent, occupying most of subula, 1/4–1/3 width of leaf at base, subula roughened abaxially; lamina cells of sheathing base linear to oblong-linear, linear-flexuose or rectangular, becoming rectangular distally and quadrate to short-rectangular in subula. Specialized asexual reproduction unknown. Sexual condition autoicous, paroicous or synoicous; perigonia axillary, or on short branches proximal to perichaetium; perichaetial leaves not differentiated. Seta yellow-brown to reddish, elongate, erect. Capsule erect and symmetric or inclined and asymmetric, exserted, brown, cylindric to ovoid-cylindric, ± wrinkled when dry and empty; annulus of 2–3 rows of large, pale cells, deciduous; operculum conic, straight; peristome single, teeth16, variously split to near the base into 2(–3) minutely papillose filaments, teeth sometimes arranged in 8 groups of 2 teeth. Calyptra cucullate. Spores globose to ovoid, finely papillose.

Distribution

Worldwide.

Discussion

Species 14 (3 in the flora).

Distichium capillaceum var. curvatum Flowers was described as a probable hybrid between D. capillaceum and D. inclinatum, characterized by capsule cylindric and strongly curved, and spores 20–23 µm.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Distichium capillaceum, Distichium hagenii, Distichium inclinatum

Key

1	Capsule erect, cylindric, straight to slightly arcuate, spores 15-25 µm.	Distichium capillaceum
1	Capsule inclined, ovoid to oblong-ovoid, spores more than 25 µm	> 2
2	Peristome with a yellowish to hyaline basal membrane uniting teeth into 8 separated groups each of 2 teeth.	Distichium hagenii
2	Peristome of 16, evenly spaced, irregularly divided or perforate teeth.	Distichium inclinatum