Archegoniate plants of 1-stratose, ovate to ovate-lanceolate leaves, leaves with ciliate or jagged margins. Seta erect, rough, red-brown when mature, 3–15 mm, bulging where it joins the oblique capsule.

Distribution

North America, Europe, Asia, Pacific Islands (New Zealand), Australia.

Discussion

Species 12 (4 in the flora).

Buxbaumia plants are unlikely to be seen unless sporophytes are present. No other genus in North America is likely to be confused with it, as the characteristic obliquely oriented sporangium on erect rough seta makes it distinctive. Sporophytes appear in fall, capsules mature in spring.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Buxbaumia aphylla, Buxbaumia minakatae, Buxbaumia piperi, Buxbaumia viridis

Key

1	Upper face of capsule, when mature, with a shiny ridge bounding the margin of the face	> 2
1	Upper face of capsule, when mature, not or weakly bounded by a marginal ridge, but gradually merging with lower face	> 3
2	Capsule glossy, dark chestnut red-brown when mature, broadly ovoid, face nearly perpendicular to seta.	Buxbaumia aphylla
2	Capsule dull brown to greenish brown when mature, narrowly ovoid, face strongly oblique to seta.	Buxbaumia piperi
3	Capsule narrowly ovoid to cylindric; exterior membrane of upper face intact when mature, not opalescent, generally dull.	Buxbaumia minakatae
3	Capsule ovoid; exterior membrane of upper face of capsule splitting irregularly longitudinally and curling outward or inward, opalescent.	Buxbaumia viridis