Meterotiaceae is a family of mosses from the order

Hypnales Hypnales is the botanical name of an order of Bryophyta or leafy mosses. This group is sometimes called feather mosses, referring to their freely branched stems. The order includes more than 40 families and more than 4,000 species, making them ...

. There are about 22

genera Genus (; : genera ) is a taxonomic rank above species and below family as used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In binomial nomenclature, the genus name forms the first part of the binomial s ...

and 171

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

represented by the family.

Description

Characteristic traits of the family include creeping stems with pendent branches, elongate, mostly papillose laminal cells, and pointed leaves. The taxonomy and phylogenetic relationships of this complex group of mosses are difficult to interpret, and attempts to structure the taxon are ongoing.

Distribution

Meteoriaceae species are found in warm topical and subtropical regions worldwide. Their primary substrate is on twigs and bark.

Classification

Meteoriaceae was originally classified under in the order

Leucodontales Hypnales is the botanical name of an order (biology), order of Bryophytes, Bryophyta or leafy mosses. This group is sometimes called feather mosses, referring to their freely branched stems. The order includes more than 40 families and more than ...

but are now within the

. The family contains the following genera: * '' Aerobryidium'' M.Fleisch. ex Broth. * '' Aerobryopsis'' M.Fleisch. * '' Barbella'' M.Fleisch. ''ex'' Broth. * '' Barbellopsis'' Broth. * '' Chrysocladium'' M.Fleisch. * '' Cryptopapillaria'' M.Menzel * '' Diaphanodon'' Renauld & Cardot * '' Duthiella'' Müll.Hal. ''ex'' Broth. * '' Floribundaria'' M.Fleisch. * '' Lepyrodontopsis'' Broth. * '' Meteoriopsis'' M.Fleisch. ex Broth. * '' Meteorium'' Dozy & Molk. * '' Neodicladiella'' (Nog.) W.R.Buck * '' Neonoguchia'' S.H.Lin * '' Papillaria'' (Müll.Hal.) Lorentz * '' Pseudospiridentopsis'' (Broth.) M.Fleisch. * '' Pseudotrachypus'' P.de la Varde & Thér. * '' Sinskea'' W.R.Buck * '' Toloxis'' W.R.Buck * '' Trachycladiella'' (M.Fleisch.) M.Menzel * '' Trachypodopsis'' M.Fleisch. * '' Trachypus'' Reinw. & Hornsch.

References

Hypnales Moss families {{bryidae-stub