Ditrichum

• Authority

  Sharp, Aaron J., et al. 1994. The Moss Flora of Mexico. Part One: Sphagnales to Bryales. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 69 (1): 1-452.

• Family

  Ditrichaceae

• Scientific Name

  Ditrichum

• Description

  Genus Description - Rather small, loosely tufted plants, simple or forked. Leaves lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, mostly gradually acuminate or subulate, often curved, sometimes secund; costa subpercurrent to excurrent (the lamina narrow above and sometimes absent above the shoulders); upper cells subquadrate to linear, smooth (or, very rarely, ± papillose); lower cells oblong to linear. Perichaetial leaves not much differentiated but sometimes enlarged and clasping at base. Setae elongate, erect or flexuose; capsules suberect or inclined, cylindric or ellipsoidal, often curved and asymmetric and frequently ± striate or furrowed when dry and empty; annulus large, compound, revoluble or ± persistent; operculum conic or conic-rostrate; peristome inserted near the mouth, the teeth 16, usually split to the low basal membrane into 2 fihform, terete, usually papillose divisions, suberect, somewhat oblique, or weakly spiraled. Spores spherical. Calyptrae cucullate, smooth.

• Discussion

  Intergeneric crosses attest to a close relationship between Ditrichum, with well-developed setae and elongate capsules with opercula and peristomes, and Pleuridium, with greatly reduced cleistocarpous sporophytes. The gametophytes resemble those of Dicranella, but the threadlike forks of the peristome teeth and their papillose markings are different.