Leaves erect to wide-spreading, some species 3-ranked, ligulate to ovate-lanceolate; margins plane to reflexed basally to recurved throughout; laminal cells irregularly isodiametric to short-rhombic, surface not bulging, smooth, walls firm; basal cells longer than distal cells.

Distribution

North America, Mexico, Central America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa, Pacific Islands (New Zealand), Australia.

Discussion

Species 12 (3 in the flora).

Meesia occurs on calcareous soil banks and in rich fens in boreal, alpine, and arctic habitats. The quadrate distal laminal cells differentiate Meesia from Amblyodon dealbatus, which has elongate, pellucid laminal cells.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Meesia longiseta, Meesia triquetra, Meesia uliginosa

Key

1	Leaves ligulate to narrowly lanceolate, not 3-ranked, erect when moist; margins revolute basally.	Meesia uliginosa
1	Leaves ovate-lanceolate to lanceolate, 3-ranked, spreading when moist; margins plane to reflexed basally	> 2
2	Leaf margins entire; sexual condition synoicous.	Meesia longiseta
2	Leaf margins serrulate distally; sexual condition dioicous.	Meesia triquetra