BFNA Title: Meesiaceae Note October 27, 2009: Leptobryum will be
added to this family soon. -RHZ. Dale H. Vitt Plants
acrocarpous, erect to ascending, simple to sparsely branched.
Leaves ovate-lanceolate to ligulate; costa strong, single. Seta
slender and usually very long, to 10 cm. Capsule clavate; with
an erect, long, well-defined neck abruptly merging to a wider,
smooth, horizontal, spore-bearing portion. Peristome
diplolepidous, exostome of 16, short, obtuse teeth (but elongate
in Paludella), endostome of 16 longer segments, cilia short or
absent. Calyptra cucullate. Genera 4 (3 in the flora):
widespread in northern North America, Europe, and Asia, disjunct
in South America, Africa, The family is characterized by
capsules with long necks that abruptly expand into the spore
sac. These acrocarpic plants have no differentiated alar cells,
generally occur on peaty substrates, have long setae, and
reduced diplolepideous peristomes. REFERENCES Crum, H. and L. E.
Anderson. Meesiaceae. Mosses of 1. Leaves squarr