Neckera


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

Description

Gametophyte

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.
The creeping stems are irregularly branched. Paraphyllia may be present or absent.
The secondary stem and branch leaves range from erect to spreading. The leaf like structures may be secund, ovate, obovate, oblong, oblong-ligulate, or oblong-lanceolate. They may be asymmetric or flat or strongly undulate. The margins are entire to serrate with recurved teeth. The apex is obtuse to acuminate and the costa double and short, or sometimes single or absent. The basal laminal cells are linear to rectangular. The walls may or may not be pitted.

Sporophyte

The seta range from 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 are oblong, oblong-lanceolate, or ovate-subulate.

Reproduction

Plants are autoicous or dioicous. The spores are 12-39 μm in size.

Species

The following species are recognised: