''Bryum'' is a
genus
Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family (taxonomy), family as used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In bino ...
of
moss
Mosses are small, non-vascular plant, non-vascular flowerless plants in the taxonomic phylum, division Bryophyta (, ) ''sensu stricto''. Bryophyta (''sensu lato'', Wilhelm Philippe Schimper, Schimp. 1879) may also refer to the parent group bryo ...
es in the family
Bryaceae. It was considered the largest genus of mosses, in terms of the number of species (over 1000), until it was split into three separate genera in a 2005 publication.
[New genera and combinations in Bryaceae (Bryales, Musci) for North America, J. R. Spence, Phytologia 87: 15-28 (2005)]
/ref> As of 2013, the classification of both ''Bryum'' and the family Bryaceae to which it belongs underwent significant changes based on DNA studies.[Genus ''Bryum'', California Moss eFlora, Jepson eFlora for CA Vascular Plants, University Herbarium, University of California]
/ref>
Description
''Bryum'' is a polyphyletic
A polyphyletic group is an assemblage that includes organisms with mixed evolutionary origin but does not include their most recent common ancestor. The term is often applied to groups that share similar features known as Homoplasy, homoplasies ...
genus that has high morphological variation. Bryum species generally have shorter laminal cells with short, thick, and rounded stems.[ All ''Bryum'' species exhibit narrowed cells at the margins. Bryum species can be identified through patterns of ]asexual reproduction
Asexual reproduction is a type of reproduction that does not involve the fusion of gametes or change in the number of chromosomes. The offspring that arise by asexual reproduction from either unicellular or multicellular organisms inherit the f ...
, coloration features of the stem and leaf base, and the strength of the leaf border.[
]
History
The genus was described by Johann Hedwig
Johann Hedwig (8 December 1730 – 18 February 1799), also styled as Johannes Hedwig, was a German botanist notable for his studies of mosses. He is sometimes called the "father of bryology". He is known for his particular observations of sexual ...
in 1801, with the name being derived from the Greek word for moss.[ The genera '' Gemmabryum'', '' Imbribryum'', and '' Rosulabryum'' were later published to further divide ''Bryum''.]
References
{{Authority control
Moss genera