Calymperes
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Authority
Reese, William D. 1993. Calymperaceae. Fl. Neotrop. Monogr. 58: 1-102. (Published by NYBG Press)
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Family
Calymperaceae
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Scientific Name
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Type
Type species: C. lonchophyllum Schwaegrichen (designated by Williams, Bull. Torrey Bot. Club 47: 385. 1920). The name Calymperes is derived from a composite of two Greek words meaning a covering, and to pierce through, presumably in reference to the escape of the spores through the perforations of the calyptra.
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Description
Genus Description - Plants mostly tufted, with erect, mostly simple stems; cells of upper lamina isodiametric or transversely elongate; leaf margins generally thickened but mostly lacking elongate, hyaline cells; teniolae, gemma receptacles, and highly modified gemmiferous leaves common; capsules exserted; peristomes lacking; calyptra plicate, persistent, enclosing the capsule, clasping the operculum by its rostrum and twisting around the seta below, bearing vertical slits above through which the spores escape.
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Discussion
Three subgenera of Calymperes have been formally recognized world wide (see Reese, 1987a for review), and a fourth is described as new in this treatment. The subgenera and their American species are listed alphabetically below.
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Distribution
Calymperes is worldwide in the tropics and subtropics and particularly well-developed and frequent in warm humid low lying evergreen rainforests. The center of distribution for the genus in the neotropics is northeastern South America. Sixteen species of Calymperes occur in the neotropics. Most species of Calymperes are corticolous but a few grow on rocks and soil; some species attain modest elevations but the majority are plants of warm, humid lowlands.