Neckeraceae

Diagnosis: Plants small to medium-sized, in loose, pale- to yellow-green mats. Stems up to 10 cm long, irregularly and often sparsely branched; branches blunt or slightly tapered. Leaves smooth or slightly undulate, 1-1.5 x 0.5 mm long, ligulate, moderately auriculate, broadly rounded-obtuse or rarely truncate; margins entire except at the crenulate apex; costa ending 1/2-3/4 the leaf length; upper cells hexagonal, firm-walled, somewhat longer, rectangular and porose toward the base. Capsule up to 1.25 mm long, brown or straw-colored. Calyptra cucullate. Spores 14-16 µm diameter.

Distribution: U.S (Florida); Mexico; Central America; Caribbean, South America; west tropical Africa

Ecology: On exposed roots, trunks and branches of trees, occasionally on rocks, 150-900 m. Very common in our area.

Basionym: Neckera disticha Hedw.

Basionym Citation: Species Muscorum Frondosorum 201. 1801.

Other Published Figures: W. R. Buck. 1998. Pleurocarpous mosses of the West Indies. Plate 40 (9-16).