Neckera

Neckera
Neckera pennata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Division:	Bryophyta
Class:	Bryopsida
Subclass:	Bryidae
Order:	Hypnales
Family:	Neckeraceae
Genus:	Neckera Hedw.
Species
See text.
Synonyms
Paraphysanthus Spruce Rhystophyllum Ehrh. ex E.Britton

Neckera is a large genus of mosses belonging to the family Neckeraceae.^[1] The genus was first described by Johann Hedwig.^[1] The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution.^[1]

Description[]

Close up showing the gametophye of Neckera crispa.

Gametophye[]

Medium-sized to large mosses that form shelf growth forms. They are light to dark green in colour, or sometimes yellowish. They tend to be shiny.^[2]

The creeping stems are irregularly branched. Paraphyllia (the trichome-like or foliose structures on moss stem surfaces^[3]) may be present or absent.^[2]

The capsule of Neckera crispa

The secondary stem and branch leaves range from erect to spreading. The leaf like structures may be secund (on one side only), ovate (oval shaped), obovate (narrower edge at the base), oblong (elongated), oblong-ligulate (long and strap-shaped), or oblong-lanceolate (long and lance shaped). They may be asymmetric or flat or strongly undulate (wavy edged).^[2] The margins are entire to serrate with recurved teeth. The apex is obtuse to acuminate and the costa (midrib) double and short, or sometimes single or absent. The basal laminal cells are linear to rectangular. The walls may or may not be pitted.^[2]

Sporophye[]

The seta range from 0.1–1.2 cm (0.039–0.472 in) in length. The capsules are cylindric, oblong, or globose. The exostome teeth are lanceolate and smooth to densely papillose. They somewhat cross striate basally. The endostome basal membrane is low to high. The segments are smooth to densely papillose. The surrounding perichaetial inner leaves (modified leaves surrounding the sex organs or later the seta) are oblong, oblong-lanceolate, or ovate-subulate.^[2]

Reproduction[]

Plants are autoicous (male and female reproductive structures on the same plant but on separate branches) or dioicous (male and female reproductive structures on separate plants).^[2] The spores are 12-39 µm in size.^[2]

Species[]

The following species are recognised:^[2]

References[]