Ditrichaceae

Belongs within: Dicranideae.

The Ditrichaceae are a family of mosses that are usually found growing directly on soil. They are distinguished from related families primarily by features of the peristome, the ring of teeth around the opening of the spore capsule, with the teeth generally divided into terete filaments and lacking pit-striations (Seppelt 2007). However, among the genera listed below, at least Eccremidium and Pleuridium are cleistocarpic (their capsules lack opercula, and hence peristomes, and open through breakdown of the capsule wall). The peristome teeth are cleft nearly to the base in Ceratodon and Ditrichum, with the capsule being smooth in Ditrichum but striate in Ceratodon (Dixon 1924).

Characters (from Seppelt 2007): Plants minute or rather small to medium-sized, gregarious or loosely to densely tufted. Stems erect, simple or forked, with a central strand. Leaves mostly lanceolate, acuminate or subulate, straight or somewhat curved, rarely sheathing at base; in numerous rows (2 rows in Distichium); costa single, well developed, subpercurrent to excurrent, in section with 1 row of guide cells and 2 stereid bands, adaxial band sometimes much reduced; lamina cells smooth (more or less roughened in subula in Distichium); basal cells elongate, narrower towards the margins, those of basal angles not differentiated or forming a marginal border; distal cells isodiametric or short-rectangular to elongate, walls firm. Specialized asexual reproduction occasional, as multicellular filamentous gemmae borne in axils or along stems, or as specialised tubers or filamentous propagules on rhizoids. Sexual condition dioicous, autoicous, paroicous, or synoicous; perigonia axillary or on short branches adjacent to perichaetia, or terminal on separate plants; perichaetial leaves not markedly differentiated or with a longer, broader sheathing base and shorter subulate apex. Seta short to more or less elongate, yellow to orange, reddish brown, brown, or reddish purple; capsules immersed to emergent and subglobose to long-exserted and more or less cylindric, erect to inclined or pendulous, often more or less curved or asymmetric; cleistocarpous, gymnostomous, or peristomate; annulus, when present, usually of 2-3 rows of larger cells, deciduous; peristome, when present, single, of 16 teeth, variously split into two terete filaments or perforate to near the base; operculum conic to short-rostrate. Calyptra cucullate, rarely mitrate. Spores spheric to ovoid or more or less reniform, finely to coarsely papillose, verrucose, or somewhat vermicular or reticulate.

<==Ditrichaceae [Ditricheae]
    |--Distichium Bruch & Schimp. in Bruch, Schimp. & Gümbel 1846 (nom. cons.)S04 [DistichioideaeOZB-O03]
    |    |--D. capillaceum (Hedw.) Bruch. & Schimp. in Bruch, Schimp. & Gümbel 1846S04 (see below for synonymy)
    |    `--D. inclinatum (Hedw.) Bruch & Schimp. in Bruch, Schimp. & Gümbel 1846 [=Swartzia inclinata]S04
    |--CeratodontoideaeOZB-O03
    |    |--Saelania Lindb. 1878OZB-O03, S04
    |    |    `--S. glaucescens (Hedw.) Broth. in Bomannson & Broth. 1894S04 (see below for synonymy)
    |    `--Ceratodon Brid. 1826SK02
    |         |--C. conicus ((Hampe) Lindb. 1889S04 (see below for synonymy)
    |         |--C. purpureus (Hedw.) Brid. 1826SK02 (see below for synonymy)
    |         |    |  i. s.: C. p. var. amblyocalyxD03
    |         |    |--C. p. ssp. purpureusSK02
    |         |    `--C. p. ssp. convolutus (Reichardt) Burley 1990 (see below for synonymy)SK02
    |         `--C. stenocarpus Bruch & Schimp. ex Müll.Hal. 1849 [=C. purpureus ssp. stenocarpus]SK02
    `--DitrichoideaeOZB-O03
         |--Trichodon Schimp. 1855OZB-O03, S04
         |    `--T. cylindricus (Hedw.) Schimp. 1855S04 (see below for synonymy)
         |--Cleistocarpidium Ochyra & Bednarek-Ochyra 1996OZB-O03
         |    `--C. palustre (Bruch & Schimp.) Ochyra & Bednarek-Ochyra 1996 (see below for synonymy)OZB-O03
         |--Pseudephemerum (Lindb.) Hagen 1910OZB-O03, SK02
         |    `--P. nitidum (Hedw.) Loeske 1910S04 (see below for synonymy)
         |         |--P. n. var. nitidumD24
         |         `--‘Pleuridium axillare’ var. strictum [=Phascum strictum]D24
         |--Pleuridium Rabenh. 1848 (nom. cons.)OZB-O03, S04
         |    |--P. acuminatum Lind. 1863SK02
         |    |--P. arnoldii (R.Br.bis) Paris 1897SK02
         |    |--P. brachycaulon (Müll.Hal.) Kindb. 1889 [=Astomum brachycaulon]SK02
         |    |--P. breutelianumSK02
         |    |--P. curvisetum Stone 1976SK02
         |    |--P. ecklonii (Hampe ex Müll.Hal.) Snider 1975SK02
         |    |--P. lampropyxis (Müll.Hal.) Paris 1900 [=Astomum lampropyxis]SK02
         |    |--P. nervosum (Hooker) Mitt. 1856 [=Phascum nervosum]SK02
         |    |    |--P. n. var. nervosum (see below for synonymy)SK02
         |    |    `--P. n. var. minus Watts & Whitel. ex Roth 1911SK02
         |    |--P. pappeanum (Müll.Hal.) Jaeger 1869SK02
         |    |--P. subulatum (Hedw.) Rabenh. 1848S04 (see below for synonymy)
         |    `--P. viride (Müll.Hal.) Kindb. 1889 [=Astomum viride]SK02
         `--Ditrichum Hampe 1876S04
              |--D. brachycarpum Hampe 1872 (see below for synonymy)SK02
              |--D. brevirostre (R.Br.bis) Broth. 1901SK02
              |--D. conicumD03
              |--D. cornubicum Paton 1976S04
              |--D. cylindricarpum (Müll.Hal.) Muell. 1880 (see below for synonymy)SK02
              |--D. darjeelingenseN02
              |--D. difficile (Duby) Fleischer 1904 (see below for synonymy)SK02
              |--D. flexicaule (Schwägr.) Hampe 1867S04 (see below for synonymy)
              |    |--D. f. var. flexicauleD24
              |    `--D. f. var. brevifoliumD24
              |--D. fragilicuspisM49
              |--D. gracile (Mitt.) Kuntze 1891S04 (see below for synonymy)
              |--D. heteromallum (Hedw.) Britton 1913S04 (see below for synonymy)
              |--D. hookeriD03
              |--D. hyalinumD03
              |--D. lineare (Sw.) Lindb. 1871S04 (see below for synonymy)
              |--D. longisetumD03
              |--D. pallidum (Hedw.) Hampe 1867OZB-O03 (see below for synonymy)
              |--D. plumbicola Crundw. 1976S04
              |--D. praealtumD03
              |--D. punctulatum Mitt. 1879SK02
              |--D. pusillum (Hedw.) Hampe 1867S04 (see below for synonymy)
              |--D. rufescensJ87
              |--D. rufoaureum (Hampe) Willis 1955 (see below for synonymy)SK02
              |--D. strictum (Hooker & Wilson) Hampe 1867 (see below for synonymy)SK02
              |--D. subcapillaceum (Müll.Hal.) Watts & Whitel. 1902 [=Leptotrichum subcapillaceum]SK02
              |--D. subulatum Hampe 1867S04 [=Trichostomum subulatumD24, Leptotrichum subulatumD24]
              `--D. zonatum (Brid.) Kindb. 1882S04 (see below for synonymy)
                   |--D. z. var. zonatumD24
                   `--D. z. var. scabrifolium Dixon 1902D24
Ditrichaceae incertae sedis:
  Chrysoblastella Williams 1903SK02
    |--C. brasiliensis [=Dichodontium brasiliense]OZB-O03
    `--C. chilensis (Montagne) Reim. 1926 [=Cheilothela chilensis]SK02
  Garckea Müll.Hal. 1845SK02
    `--G. flexuosa (Griff.) Margad. & Nork. 1973 [incl. G. comosa, G. phascoides]SK02
  Wilsoniella Müll.Hal. 1881SK02
    `--W. karsteniana Müll.Hal. 1881 [=W. karstenii (l. c.)]SK02
  Cheilothela (Lindb.) Broth. 1901S04
    `--C. chloropus (Brid.) Broth. 1901 [=Ceratodon chloropus]S04
  Eccremidium Wilson 1846SK02
    |--E. arcuatum (Hooker & Wilson) Müll.Hal. 1848 (see below for synonymy)SK02
    |--E. brisbanicum (Broth.) Stone & Scott 1973 (see below for synonymy)SK02
    |--E. exiguum (Hooker & Wilson) Wilson 1900 (see below for synonymy)SK02
    |--E. minutum (Mitt.) Stone & Scott 1973 (see below for synonymy)SK02
    |--E. pulchellum (Hooker & Wilson) Müll.Hal. 1848 (see below for synonymy)SK02
    `--E. whiteleggei Broth. 1901SK02
Nomina nuda: Ceratodon purpureus f. nervoexcedente Costin 1954SK02
             Ditrichum affine f. alpina Broth. ex Watts & Whitel. 1902SK02
             Ditrichum flaccidulum Müll.Hal. ex Watts & Whitel. 1902SK02
             Ditrichum latifolium Schwägr. ex Watts & Whitel. 1902SK02
             Ditrichum phaeum Watts & Whitel. 1902SK02

Ceratodon conicus ((Hampe) Lindb. 1889^S04 [=C. purpureus ssp. conicus^S04, Trichostomum conicum^D24; incl. Grimmia halophila^D24, Ceratodon minor^D24]

Ceratodon purpureus (Hedw.) Brid. 1826^SK02 [=Mnium purpureum^D24, Dicranum purpureum^SK02, Didymodon purpureus^SK02, Trichostomum purpureum^OZB-O03; incl. Ceratodon purpureus f. brevifolius^OZB-O03, C. purpureus f. flavisetus^OZB-O03, C. purpureus f. graefii^OZB-O03, C. purpureus f. obtusifolius^OZB-O03, Hypnum recurvulum^D24, Ceratodon vialis^D24, C. purpureus var. xanthopus^OZB-O03]

Ceratodon purpureus ssp. convolutus (Reichardt) Burley 1990 [incl. C. purpureus var. australis Müll.Hal. 1901 (n. n.), C. crassinervis Lorentz 1866, C. purpureus var. crassinervis Zetterst. 1868, C. elimbatus Müll.Hal. & Broth. 1900]^SK02

Cleistocarpidium palustre (Bruch & Schimp.) Ochyra & Bednarek-Ochyra 1996 [=Pleuridium palustre, Sporledera palustris]^OZB-O03

Distichium capillaceum (Hedw.) Bruch. & Schimp. in Bruch, Schimp. & Gümbel 1846^S04 [=Cynontodium capillaceum^SK02, Didymodon capillaceus^OZB-O3, Ditrichum capillaceum^SK02, Leptotrichum capillaceum^SK02; incl. Bryum montanum^SK02, Distichium montanum^OZB-O03, Pohlia montana^SK02, Swartzia montana^S04, Webera montana^SK02]

Ditrichum brachycarpum Hampe 1872 [=Leptotrichum brachycarpum; incl. D. calcareum, L. subbrachycarpum, D. subbrachycarpum]^SK02

Ditrichum cylindricarpum (Müll.Hal.) Muell. 1880 [=Leptotrichum cylindricarpum, Trichostomum cylindricarpum; incl. T. elongatum, Cynontodium elongatum, Ditrichum elongatum, Leptotrichum elongatum, L. scabrifolium (nom. inv.), L. strictiusculum, Ditrichum strictiusculum (Müll.Hal.) Paris 1900]^SK02

Ditrichum difficile (Duby) Fleischer 1904 [incl. Leptotrichum affine, D. affine, D. baileyi (n. n.), Leptotrichum baileyi (n. n.), D. flavipes, Le. flexifolium, D. flexifolium, Trichostomum laxifolium, D. laxifolium, Leptotrichum laxifolium, Le. muelleri, Ditrichum muelleri, Lophiodon muelleri, Trichostomum oldfieldii, Ditrichum oldfieldii, Leptotrichum oldfieldii, Le. semilunare, Ditrichum semilunare, Trichostomum setosum, D. setosum, Leptotrichum viride, D. viride]^SK02

Ditrichum flexicaule (Schwägr.) Hampe 1867^S04 [=Cynodontium flexicaule^OZB-O03, Didymodon flexicaulis^D24, Leptotrichum flexicaule^D24, Trichostomum flexicaule^OZB-O03; incl. L. compactum^D24, Ditrichum flexicaule var. densum^S04, Dit. drummondi^D24, Leptotrichum flexicaule var. densum^D24, L. infuscatum^D24]

Ditrichum gracile (Mitt.) Kuntze 1891^S04 [incl. Dit. crispatissimum^S04, Dicranella vaginata var. longifolia^SK02, Ditrichum flexicaule var. longifolium^OZB-O03]

Ditrichum heteromallum (Hedw.) Britton 1913^S04 [incl. Didymodon homomallus^D24, Dit. homomallum^S04, Leptotrichum homomallum^D24]

Ditrichum lineare (Sw.) Lindb. 1871^S04 [incl. Didymodon tenuis^OZB-O03, Dit. vaginans^S04, Leptotrichum vaginans^D24, Trichostomum vaginans^D24]

Ditrichum pallidum (Hedw.) Hampe 1867^OZB-O03 [=Dicranum pallidum^OZB-O03, Leptotrichum pallidum^OZB-O03, Trichostomum pallidum^SK02]

Ditrichum pusillum (Hedw.) Hampe 1867^S04 [=Didymodon pusillus^OZB-O03, Dit. tortile var. pusillum^D24, Leptotrichum pusillum^OZB-O03, Trichostomum tortile var. pusillum^OZB-O03; incl. Dicranum tortile^OZB-O03, Ditrichum pusillum var. tortile^OZB-O03, Leptotrichum tortile^D24, Trichostomum tortile^D24]

Ditrichum rufoaureum (Hampe) Willis 1955 [=Aongstroemia rufoaurea, Dicranella rufoaurea, Ditrichum furoaureum (l. c.)]^SK02

Ditrichum strictum (Hooker & Wilson) Hampe 1867 [=Lophiodon strictus; incl. Trichostomum australe, Cynontodium australe, Ditrichum australe (nom. illeg.), Leptotrichum australe (nom. illeg.)]^SK02

Ditrichum zonatum (Brid.) Kindb. 1882^S04 [=Weisia zonata^D24, D. homomallum var. zonatum^S04; incl. Leptotrichum confertum^D24, Conostomum extenuatum^D24]

Eccremidium arcuatum (Hooker & Wilson) Müll.Hal. 1848 [=Schistidium arcuatum; incl. B. tenuissimum (preoc.), Pleuridium tenuissimum (nom. illeg.)]^SK02

Eccremidium brisbanicum (Broth.) Stone & Scott 1973 [=Archidium brisbanicum, Micromitrium brisbanicum, Nanomitrium brisbanicum; incl. Pleuridium austrosubulatum]^SK02

Eccremidium exiguum (Hooker & Wilson) Wilson 1900 [=Phascum exiguum, Astomum exiguum, Bruchia exigua, Pleuridium exiguum; incl. Pl. krauseanum, Astomum krauseanum (nom. illeg.)]^SK02

Eccremidium minutum (Mitt.) Stone & Scott 1973 [=Bruchia minuta, Sporledera minuta; incl. B. whiteleggei var. minor, Ephemerum whiteleggei, B. whiteleggei, Sporledera whiteleggei]^SK02

Eccremidium pulchellum (Hooker & Wilson) Müll.Hal. 1848 [=Schistidium pulchellum; incl. Pleuridium curvulum (nom. illeg.), Anomobryum filescens, Archidium stolonaceum]^SK02

Pleuridium nervosum (Hooker) Mitt. 1856 var. nervosum [incl. Phascum curvulum, Astomum exsereus (n. n.), Pleuridium exserens (nom. inv.), Phascum gracilentum, Astomum gracilentum, Pleuridium gracilentum, A. subexserens, Pl. subexserens]^SK02

Pleuridium subulatum (Hedw.) Rabenh. 1848^S04 [=Astomum subulatum^OZB-O03, Phascum subulatum^D24; incl. Astomum alternifolium^OZB-O03, Ph. alternifolium^D24, Pleuridium alternifolium^S04]

Pseudephemerum nitidum (Hedw.) Loeske 1910^S04 [=Astomum nitidum^OZB-O03, Phascum nitidum^OZB-O03, Pleuridium nitidum^D24; incl. Ph. axillare^D24, Pl. axillare^S04, Pseudephemerum axillare^SK02, Phascum tenellum^SK02, Pleuridium tenellum^SK02, Pseudephemerum tenellum^SK02]

Saelania glaucescens (Hedw.) Broth. in Bomannson & Broth. 1894^S04 [=Ditrichum glaucescens^OZB-O03, Leptotrichum glaucescens^D24; incl. Bryum caesium^D24, Saelania caesia^S04]

Trichodon cylindricus (Hedw.) Schimp. 1855^S04 [=Ceratodon cylindricus^OZB-O03, Dicranum cylindricum^OZB-O03, Didymodon cylindricus^OZB-O03, Ditrichum cylindricum^S04, Trichostomum cylindricum^OZB-O03; incl. Dit. tenuifolium^S04, Trichostomum tenuifolium^D24]

*Type species of generic name indicated

References

[D24] Dixon, H. N. 1924. The Student’s Handbook of British Mosses, 3^rd ed. V. V. Sumfield: Eastbourne.

[D03] Dusén, P. 1903. Patagonian and Fuegian mosses. In: Scott, W. B. (ed.) Reports of the Princeton University Expeditions to Patagonia, 1896–1899 vol. 8. Botany pp. 63–126. The University: Princeton (New Jersey).

[J87] Judd, W. S. 1987. Floristic study of Morne La Visite and Pic Macaya National Parks, Haiti. Bulletin of the Florida State Museum—Biological Sciences 32 (1): 1–136.

[M49] Martin, W. 1949. Distribution of the mosses indigenous to New Zealand (supplement no. 1). Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand 77 (3): 355–360.

[N02] Negi, H. R. 2002. Abundance and diversity of moss communities of Chopta-Tunganath in the Garhwal Himalaya. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 99 (3): 418–433.

[OZB-O03] Ochyra, R., J. Żarnowiec & H. Bednarek-Ochyra. 2003. Census Catalogue of Polish Mosses. Institute of Botany, Polish Academy of Sciences: Cracow.

[S04] Smith, A. J. E. 2004. The Moss Flora of Britain and Ireland 2^nd ed. Cambridge University Press.

[SK02] Streimann, H., & N. Klazenga. 2002. Catalogue of Australian Mosses. Flora of Australia Supplementary Series 17. Australian Biological Resources Study: Canberra.