Belongs within: Bryophyta.
The Polytrichaceae are a family of mostly relatively large mosses found worldwide. They are distinguished by the presence of a nematodontous peristome around the mouth of the spore capsule: i.e. the opening has a surrounding ring of teeth, but rather than being constructed of reduced cell wall remnants as in the Polytrichaceae’s sister group (the Bryopsida), the teeth are composed of entire cells. Species of this family are commonly referred to as ‘hair-cap mosses’ due to the presence of hair on the calyptrae of many species, though hairs are few in species of Oligotrichum and absent in Catharinea (Dixon 1924). The genus Dawsonia includes the world’s tallest moss species, D. superba, reaching 50 cm in height.
Characters (from Smith 2004): Plants large, usually rhizomatous. Stems with central strand with differentiated conductive tissue. Leaves usually differentiated into sheathing base with narrow costa, and blade composed largely of expanded costa bearing longitudinal lamellae on adaxial side, lamina usually narrow, 1-2-stratose; margins toothed or entire, sometimes bordered. Capsules erect to horizontal, spherical to cylindrical, terete or 2-6-angled, hypophysis present or absent; annulus absent; peristome nematodontous with 32-64 teeth; columella expanded at top to membranous epiphragm joined to tips of peristome teeth; calyptrae cucullate, glabrous or hairy.
<==Polytrichaceae [Polytrichales, Polytrichanae, Polytrichidae, Polytrichii] |--Dendroligotrichum dendroidesFHH01 [=Polytrichum dendroidesSK02] |--PolytrichitesE93 |--Catharinea subundulata (Goeppert) Dixon 1927D24, E93 |--Notoligotrichum Smith 1971SK02 | |--N. australe (Hooker & Wilson) Smith 1971 (see below for synonymy)SK02 | `--N. crispulum (Hooker & Wilson) Smith 1971 (see below for synonymy)SK02 |--Psilopilum Brid. 1827SK02 | |--P. belliiA49 | |--P. compressumD03b | `--P. pyriforme (Hampe) Jaeger 1879 [=Catharinea pyriformis, Atrichum pyriforme, Oligotrichum pyriforme]SK02 |--Polytrichadelphus (Müll.Hal.) Mitt. 1859SK02 | |--P. dendroidesD03b | |--P. magellanicus (Hedw.) Mitt. 1859 (see below for synonymy)SK02 | `--P. squamosaD03b |--Oligotrichum Lamarck & Candolle 1805 (nom. cons.)S04 | |--*O. hercynicum (Hedw.) Lam. & DC. 1805OZB-O03, S04 (see below for synonymy) | | |--O. h. var. hercynicumD24 | | `--O. h. var. laxumD24 | `--O. tenuirostreA49 |--Dawsonia Brown 1811 [Dawsoniaceae, Dawsoniales]SK02 | |--D. longiseta Hampe 1860 [=D. longisetacea (l. c.); incl. D. appressa, D. victoriae]SK02 | |--D. polytrichoides Brown 1811 [=Triplocoma polytrichoides; incl. D. polytrichoides var. minor (n. n.)]SK02 | `--D. superba Greville 1847SK02 | |--D. s. var. superbaSK02 | `--D. s. var. pulchra Zanten 1972 (see below for synonymy)SK02 |--Polytrichastrum Smith 1971SK02 | |--P. (sect. Polytrichastrum) alpinum (Hedw.) Smith 1971S04 (see below for synonymy) | `--P. sect. Sexangularia (Bruch & Schimp.) Sm. 1971S04 | |--P. formosum (Hedw.) Smith 1971S04 (see below for synonymy) | |--P. longisetum (Sw. ex Brid.) Sm. 1971S04 (see below for synonymy) | |--P. pallidisetum (Funck) Sm. 1971 (see below for synonymy)OZB-O03 | `--P. sexangulare (Flörke ex Brid.) Sm. 1971 [=Polytrichum sexangulare]S04 |--Atrichum Palisot de Beauvois 1805S04 | |--A. androgynum (Müll.Hal.) Jaeger 1875 (see below for synonymy)SK02 | |--A. angustatum (Brid.) Bruch & Schimp. in Bruch, Schimp. & Gümbel 1844S04 (see below for synonymy) | |--A. crispum (Hampe) Sull. & Lesq. 1856 [=Catharinea crispa]S04 | | |--A. c. var. crispumD24 | | `--‘Catharinea crispa’ var. densifoliaD24 | |--A. flavisetum Mitt. 1859OZB-O03 | |--A. tenellum (Röhl.) Bruch & Schimp. in Bruch, Schimp. & Gümbel 1844D24 (see below for synonymy) | `--A. undulatum (Hedw.) Beauv. 1805S04 (see below for synonymy) | |--A. u. var. undulatumS04 | |--A. u. var. gracilisetum Besch. 1883S04 (see below for synonymy) | `--A. u. var. minus Fritsch 1991S04 [=Catharinea undulata var. minorD24] |--Pogonatum Palisot de Beauvois 1804SK02 | | i. s.: ‘Polytrichum’ capillareD24 | | P. dendroidesD03a | | P. graeffeanumB57 | | P. microstomumN02 | | P. neesii (Müll.Hal.) Dozy 1856 (see below for synonymy)SK02 | | P. robustum [incl. P. ekmanii Thériot 1944]J87 | | P. subtortile [incl. P. subtortile var. teysmannianum]SK02 | | P. subulatum (Brid.) Brid. 1827 [incl. Polytrichum nanournigerum, Pog. nanournigerum]SK02 | | P. suburnigerum (Goeppert & Menge) Dixon 1927E93 | | P. tortile [=Polytrichum tortile]SK02 | | P. tubulosum Dixon 1941SK02 | |--P. sect. PogonatumOZB-O03 | | |--*P. aloides (Hedw.) Beauv. 1805OZB-O03, S04 (see below for synonymy) | | | |--P. a. var. aloidesD24 | | | `--‘Polytrichum’ a. var. dicksoni [incl. Pogonatum aloides var. defluens]D24 | | `--P. nanum (Schreb. ex Hedw.) Beauv. 1805OZB-O03, S04 (see below for synonymy) | | |--P. n. var. nanumOZB-O03 | | `--P. n. var. longisetum Hampe ex Bruch & Schimp. in Bruch, Schimp. & Gümbel 1844OZB-O03 | `--P. sect. Dendroidea Schimp. 1856OZB-O03 | `--P. urnigerum (Hedw.) Beauv. 1805OZB-O03, S04 [=Polytrichum urnigerumS04; incl. Pog. urnigerum var. crassumOZB-O03] `--Polytrichum Hedw. 1801SK02 [incl. P. subg. Eu-PolytrichumD24] | i. s.: P. brachypelma Müll.Hal. 1897SK02 | P. cataractarum Müll.Hal. 1897SK02 | P. croceum Hampe 1853SK02 | P. elongatumD03b | P. lycopodioides Müll.Hal. 1897SK02 | P. norvegicumSK02 | P. novae-hollandiae Jaeger 1875 [incl. P. densifolium (preoc.)]SK02 | P. obliquirostre Müll.Hal. 1897SK02 | P. patagonicumD03b | P. recurvipilum Müll.Hal. 1897SK02 | P. spegazziniiD03b | P. subseptentrionale Goeppert 1853E93 | P. trachynotumD03b |--P. (sect. Polytrichum) commune Hedw. 1801S04 (see below for synonymy) | |--P. c. var. communeSK02 | |--P. c. var. humile Sw. 1829S04 (see below for synonymy) | |--P. c. var. perigoniale (Michx.) Hampe 1819S04 | `--P. c. var. trichodesSK02 `--P. sect Juniperifolia Bridel 1806S04 [incl. P. sect. Juniperina Hagen 1914OZB-O03] |--P. juniperinum Hedw. 1801S04 (see below for synonymy) |--P. piliferum Hedw. 1801S04 (see below for synonymy) `--P. strictum Brid. 1801S04 [=P. juniperinum ssp. strictumS04; incl. P. strictum var. alpestreOZB-O03] Nomina nuda: Pogonatum australasicum f. minor Hampe & Geh. 1881SK02 Polytrichadelphus stricticaulis Dusén 1903D03b
Atrichum androgynum (Müll.Hal.) Jaeger 1875 [incl. Catharinea leptocylindrica, A. leptocylindricum, Polytrichum ligulatum, A. ligulatum, Catharinea ligulata, C. minuta, Atrichum minutum, Oligotrichum minutum, Catharinea muelleri, Atrichum muelleri (preoc.), Polytrichum angustatum var. polysetum, A. angustatum var. polysetum (nom. inv.), Catharinea pusilla, A. pusillum, C. semilamellosa, A. semilamellosum, C. sideroloma, A. sideroloma]SK02
Atrichum angustatum (Brid.) Bruch & Schimp. in Bruch, Schimp. & Gümbel 1844S04 [=Catharinea angustataS04, Polytrichum angustatumSK02; incl. Atrichum angustatum var. rhystophyllumS04, Catharinea angustata var. rhystophyllaD24]
Atrichum tenellum (Röhl.) Bruch & Schimp. in Bruch, Schimp. & Gümbel 1844D24 [=Catharinea tenellaD24; incl. Mnium orthorrhynchiumOZB-O03]
Atrichum undulatum (Hedw.) Beauv. 1805S04 [=Bryum undulatumD24, Catharinea undulataD24, Polytrichum undulatumOZB-O03; incl. C. undulata f. polycarpaOZB-O03, Atrichum undulatum var. rivulareOZB-O03, C. undulata f. rivularisOZB-O03]
Atrichum undulatum var. gracilisetum Besch. 1883S04 [incl. A. undulatum var. haussknechtiiS04, Catharinea undulata var. haussknechtiiD24]
Dawsonia superba var. pulchra Zanten 1972 [incl. D. intermedia, Polytrichum longifolium (nom. rej.), D. longifolia (Bruch & Schimp.) Zanten 1977 (nom. rej.)]SK02
Notoligotrichum australe (Hooker & Wilson) Smith 1971 [=Polytrichum australe non P. juniperinum var. australe Müll.Hal. 1868, Psilopilum australe (Hooker & Wilson) Mitt. 1860]SK02
Notoligotrichum crispulum (Hooker & Wilson) Smith 1971 [=Polytrichum crispulum, Catharinea crispula, Psilopilum crispulum (Hooker & Wilson) Mitt. 1860]SK02
*Oligotrichum hercynicum (Hedw.) Lam. & DC. 1805OZB-O03, S04 [=Catharinea hercynicaD24; incl. O. hercynicum var. brevifoliumOZB-O03, O. incurvum var. brevifoliumOZB-O03, O. exiguumD24, O. incurvumD24]
*Pogonatum aloides (Hedw.) Beauv. 1805OZB-O03, S04 [=Polytrichum aloidesS04; incl. Pog. aloides var. minimum (Crome) Molendo 1875S04, OZB-O03, Pog. nanum var. minimumOZB-O03]
Pogonatum nanum (Schreb. ex Hedw.) Beauv. 1805OZB-O03, S04 [=Polytrichum nanumS04; incl. Pog. polytrichoidesOZB-O03, Pol. subrotundumD24]
Pogonatum neesii (Müll.Hal.) Dozy 1856 [incl. Polytrichum australasicum, Pog. australasicum, Pog. baileyi (nom. inv.), Polytrichum brachypodium, Pog. brachypodium (Müll.Hal.) Watts & Whitel. 1902, Pol. camarae, Pog. camarae (Müll.Hal.) Paris 1897, Pol. gippslandiae, Pog. gippslandiae (Müll.Hal.) Paris 1900, Pol. nanocarpum, Pog. nanocarpum (Müll.Hal.) Paris 1900]SK02
Polytrichadelphus magellanicus (Hedw.) Mitt. 1859 [=Polytrichum magellanicum; incl. Catharinea arnoldii, Oligotrichum arnoldii, Polytrichadelphus arnoldii, Catharinea australasica, Oligotrichum australasicum, Polytrichadelphus australasicus, Polytrichum innovans (nom. inv.), Catharinea innovans, Oligotrichum innovans, Polytrichadelphus innovans, Catharinea lagenacea, Polytrichadelphus lagenaceus, C. prolificans, Polytrichadelphus prolificans]SK02
Polytrichastrum alpinum (Hedw.) Smith 1971S04 [=Polytrichum alpinumSK02, Pogonatum alpinumSK02; incl. Pog. alpinum var. arcticumOZB-O03, Polytrichum alpinum var. arcticumOZB-O03, Pog. austroalpinumSK02, Polytrichum austroalpinum (nom. inv.)SK02, Pog. alpinum var. brevifoliumOZB-O03, Polytrichum alpinum var. brevifoliumOZB-O03, Polytrichum alpinum var. campanulatumD24, Polytrichum pseudoalpinumSK02, Pogonatum pseudoalpinumSK02, Pog. alpinum var. septentrionaleOZB-O03, Polytrichum alpinum var. septentrionaleS04, Polytrichum alpinum var. silvaticumOZB-O03, Pog. alpinum var. simplexOZB-O03, Polytrichum alpinum var. simplexOZB-O03]
Polytrichastrum formosum (Hedw.) Smith 1971S04 [=Polytrichum formosum Hedw. 1801SK02; incl. Polytrichum anomalumOZB-O03, Polytrichum attenuatumD24]
Polytrichastrum longisetum (Sw. ex Brid.) Sm. 1971S04 [=Polytrichum nanum var. longisetumD24, S04; incl. Polytrichum gracile var. anomalum non Polytrichum anomalumOZB-O03, Polytrichum gracile f. aquaticumOZB-O03, Polytrichum aurantiacumS04, Polytrichum gracileS04]
Polytrichastrum pallidisetum (Funck) Sm. 1971 [=Polytrichum attenuatum var. pallidisetum, Polytrichum formosum var. pallidisetum; incl. Polytrichum decipiens]OZB-O03
Polytrichum commune Hedw. 1801S04 [incl. P. commune var. chalubinskiOZB-O03, P. commune f. nigrescensOZB-O03, P. commune f. uliginosumOZB-O03, P. yuccaefoliumOZB-O03]
Polytrichum commune var. humile Sw. 1829S04 [=Pogonatum urnigerum var. humileD24, Pol. urnigerum var. humileD24; incl. Pol. commune var. fastigiatumD24, Pol. commune var. minusS04]
Polytrichum juniperinum Hedw. 1801S04 [incl. P. juniperinum var. alpinum non P. alpinumOZB-O03, P. juniperinum var. australe Müll.Hal. 1868SK02, P. beccariiSK02, P. cypellomitriumSK02, P. juniperifoliumSK02, P. longipilumSK02, P. maoriaeSK02, P. nodicomaSK02, P. ryparomitriumSK02, P. tasmaniaeSK02, P. tasmanicum (l. c.)SK02, P. tysdaleiSK02, P. tisdallii (l. c.)SK02]
Polytrichum piliferum Hedw. 1801S04 [incl. P. piliferum var. hoppeiOZB-O03, P. pilosum (nom. illeg.)SK02, P. sullivaniiSK02, Eupolytrichum sullivanii (nom. inv.)SK02]
*Type species of generic name indicated
References
[A49] Allison, K. W. 1949. Description of a new species with notes and localities for some Otago and Southland mosses. Transactions and Proceedings of the Royal Society of New Zealand 77 (2): 278–283.
[B57] Bartram, E. B. 1957. Additional Fijian mosses, III. Journal of the Washington Academy of Sciences 46 (12): 392–396.
[D24] Dixon, H. N. 1924. The Student’s Handbook of British Mosses 3rd ed. V. V. Sumfield: Eastbourne.
[D03a] Dusén, P. 1903a. The vegetation of western Patagonia. In: Scott, W. B. (ed.) Reports of the Princeton University Expeditions to Patagonia, 1896–1899 vol. 8. Botany pp. 1–34. The University: Princeton (New Jersey).
[D03b] Dusén, P. 1903b. 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).
[E93] Edwards, D. 1993. Bryophyta. In: Benton, M. J. (ed.) The Fossil Record 2 pp. 775–778. Chapman & Hall: London.
[FHH01] Frey, W., M. Hofmann & H. H. Hilger. 2001. The gametophyte-sporophyte junction: unequivocal hints for two evolutionary lines of archegoniate land plants. Flora 196: 431–445.
[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.
[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 2nd 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.