Anomodontaceae

Plants small to large, in dense or loose mats, glaucous, green, brown, or yellowish brown, dull. Stems creeping, sparsely to profusely branched, irregularly pinnate; paraphyllia absent. Stem and branch leaves differentiated. Stem leaves scalelike, minute; apex acute-acuminate to rounded; costa single, long, ending below apex, thick, usually pellucid, or double and short; laminal cells short. Branch leaves with costa single, ending sharply at or near apex, pellucid. Sexual condition dioicous. Seta dark to light reddish or brown, flexuose. Capsule erect, exserted; operculum conic to obliquely short-rostrate; exostome whitish yellow to pale brown, often striolate at base and papillose.

Distribution

North America, Mexico, West Indies, Central America, South America, Europe, e Asia, Africa, Pacific Islands, Australia, circumboreal areas.

Discussion

Genera 4, species ca. 20 (2 genera, 9 species in the flora).

Selected References

Granzow-de la Cerda, Í. 1997. Revision and phylogenetic study of Anomodon and Herpetineuron (Anomodontaceae, Musci). Contr. Univ. Michigan Herb. 21: 205–275.

Lower Taxa

Anomodon, Herpetineuron

Illustrations

	Family ⠉	Taxon	Illustrator ⠉
	Anomodontaceae	Anomodon tristis	Patricia M. Eckel
	Anomodontaceae	Herpetineuron toccoae	Patricia M. Eckel

Key

1	Branch leaves broadly ovate to lanceolate, ± abruptly narrowed mid leaf; laminal cells with papillae 1 or many.	Anomodon
1	Branch leaves ovate-lanceolate, gradually tapered from base to apex; laminal cells smooth.	Herpetineuron