Cryphaea

• Authority

  Sharp, Aaron J., et al. 1994. The Moss Flora of Mexico. Part Two: Orthotrichales to Polytrichales. Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 69 (2)

• Family

  Cryphaeaceae

• Scientific Name

  Cryphaea

• Description

  Genus Description - Plants yellow- to dark-green. Secondary stems spreading from the substrate, irregularly pinnate. Leaves imbricate dry, erect to wide-spreading when moist, lanceolate to ovate, acuminate; margins plane or (more often) revolute; costa ending near the midleaf to nearly percurrent; upper cells oval to narrowly elliptic, smooth or papillose on both surfaces owing to projecting cell ends. Perichaetia at ends of very short, differentiated branches, with ± membranous, enlarged bracts. Capsules oblong-ovoid to broadly ovoid; peristome double, the teeth papillose throughout. Spores unicellular. Calyptrae smooth or papillose above because of projecting upper ends of cells.

• Discussion

  The plants commonly grow singly and spread at right angles to the substrate. The leaves are imbricate when dry, giving the stems and branches a terete appearance, but on wetting they quickly open out. The perichaetia terminate short, specialized branches, and their bracts are considerably differentiated.