The identity of Racomitrium obtusifolium (Musci,Grimmiaceae) from North America

Trichostomum obtusifolium P. Beauv. is lectotypified and the type material is briefly described and illustrated. It is shown that the species correctly belongs within the genus Anomodon Hook. & Tayl., not Racomitrium Brid., and it is synonymous with A. minor (Hedw.) Lindb. A brief nomenclatural note on A. minor is presented and its homotypic synonyms are listed.     

Four new hepatics from Australia

Abstract

A new species, Racomitrium patagonicum Bednarek-Ochyra &; Ochyra, is described from southern South America. A herbarium name, R. senile Schimp. in A. Jaeger, is considered synonymous with R. patagonicum and confusion associated with its interpretation is explained. The new species belongs to the type subgenus of Racomitrium and is closely alied to R. lanuginosum (Hedw.) Brid. from which it differs by the very long and broadly decurrent, ruffled or wavy margins of the hyaline hair-point, broadly canaliculate leaves and dull green, strongly papillose laminal cells. Grimmia glacialis Müll. Hal., hom. illeg. (=Racomitrium glaciale Kindb.) from South Georgia is typified and this name is considered synonymous with Racomitrium lanuginosum subsp. lanuginosum. Distribution of the new species is mapped. A key to species of Racomitrium subg. Racomitrium is provided.     

John Bishop Duncan

Abstract

Atrichum undulatum (Hedw.) Beauv., Physcomitrium pyriforme (Hedw.) Hampe, Cyclodictyon blumeanum (C. Muell.) O. Kuntze and Tristichella spiculifera Dix., representing four genera of mosses new to Peninsular Malaysia, are reported and the latter two species described and illustrated. Features of ecological and distributional interest are also discussed. The sporophytes of Tristichella spiculifera are described and figured for the first time.     

Bryophytes from the southeastern Yukon Territory,Canada

One hundred and forty-five taxa of bryophytes are reported from the extreme southeastern Yukon. Eight species of Hepaticae and 13 of mosses represent new records for the Yukon, which are Calypogeia suecica (S. Arnell & Perss.) K. Müll., Chiloscyphus pallescens (Ehrh.) Dum., Conocephalum conicum (L.) Dum., Jamesoniella autumnalis (DC.) Steph., Pellia neesiana (Gott.) Limpr., Ptilidium pulcherrimum (Web.) Hampe, Riccardia palmata (Hedw.) Carruth., Tritomaria exsecta (Schmid.) Schiffn., Amblystegium varium (Hedw.) Lindb., Brachythecium rivulare B.S.G., B. rutabulum (Hedw.) B.S.G., Bryum blindii B.S.G., Didymodon rigidulus Hedw., D. tophaceus (Brid.) Lisa, Drepanocladus trichophyllus (Warnst.) Podp., Hygroamblystegium noterophilum (Sull. & Lesq. ex Sull.) Warnst., Hygrohypnum molle (Hedw.) Loeske, Plagiomnium ciliare (C. Müll.) Kop., P. cuspidatum (Hedw.) Kop., Platydictya minutissimum (Sull. & Lesq. ex Sull.) Crum, and Pylaisiella selwynii (Kindb.) Crum, Steere & Anderson. Many of the other collections represent wide extensions of range within the Yukon Territory.     

五大连池火山熔岩地貌苔藓植物对土壤养分积累的作用

为了解五大连池火山熔岩地貌土壤主要矿质养分含量及其特点,同时探讨苔藓植物对土壤养分积累的影响,选取了6座形成年代不同的火山,对其进行了苔藓植物生境分布、盖度调查及土壤养分含量的测定。结果表明:(1)西焦得布山、卧虎山、南格拉球山、莫拉布山等老期火山阔叶林下苔藓种类匮乏,其盖度1%;老期火山石塘林苔藓种类较丰富,盖度可达10%—15%,主要分布有毛尖紫萼藓、山羽藓、美灰藓、虎尾藓等石生藓类,同时还有石缝藓、卷叶凤尾藓等生于石缝内。(2)新期火山中老黑山的林下以垂枝藓为优势种,盖度可达50%—80%,常见伴生种有山羽藓、狭叶小羽藓、金灰藓、毛尖紫萼藓等。老黑山火山砾生境以砂藓为优势种,盖度可达45%;常见伴生种有垂枝藓、美灰藓、真藓、桧叶金发藓等。(3)新期火山中的火烧山上分布的苔藓以毛尖紫萼藓、垂枝藓、美灰藓等干燥石生藓类为主,盖度为10%左右,峭壁背阴处和石缝等小生境中分布有密叶三瓣苔、毛尖金发藓、桧叶金发藓等。(4)土壤N、P、K三大营养元素含量在老期火山土壤中基本上都为丰;全N、S、有机质含量在新期火山土壤中的含量最低,有随火山形成年代的增加而升高的趋势;全K、Ca、Mg、Fe、Zn、B含量在新期火山土壤中都最高,有随年代的增加而减少的趋势;全Mn和Cl含量在新期火山土壤中较高,也随年代的增加而有下降的趋势;全P的量在各火山土壤中的含量都较高,没有明显的变化趋势;新期火山土壤p H值高于老期火山,土壤酸碱反应总体上呈中性。(5)土壤全N、S含量与有机质含量,全K含量与全Mg、Fe含量,全Mg含量与全Fe含量呈极显著正相关(P0.01);全S含量和有机质含量具有显著正相关性(P0.05);全N含量与全K含量呈极显著负相关(P0.01);全N与全Zn,全K、S与有机质,全Ca与Cl,全S与全Zn,全Zn与有机质含量间具有显著的负相关性(P0.05)。(6)表面有苔藓植物覆盖的火烧山土壤所含N、S、P、有机质等的含量高于火山砾;老黑山路边土壤养分含量几乎都低于林下样品,老黑山表面覆盖有垂枝藓、山羽藓、砂藓和桧叶金发藓的火山砾所含N、S、有机质的含量高于只有砂藓覆盖的火山砾。     

Relationship between frost tolerance and sugar concentration of various bryophytes in summer and winter

Summary Frost resistance, measured via the photosynthetic capacity after freeze-thaw treatment, and concentrations of sucrose, glucose and fructose of thalli of seven species of Bryidae and one species of Marchantiidae were determined from January to March and June to September, respectively. A distinct increase in cold tolerance from summer to winter was found in Polytrichum formosum Hedw., Atrichum undulatum (Hedw.) P. Beauv., Plagiomnium undulatum (Hedw.) Kop., Plagiomnium affine (Funck) Kop., Mnium hornum Hedw. and Pellia epiphylla (L.) Corda. While the frost resistance of the musci differed in summer and winter by 15° to more than 25° C, the hardening capacity of the thalloid liverwort was comparably low. Except in Mnium hornum, the increase in frost hardiness was accompanied by rise of the sucrose concentration in the cells, but insignificant changes in glucose and fructose contents. In contrast, Brachythecium rutabulum (Hedw.) B.S.G. and Hypnum cupressiforme Hedw. already exhibited high frost tolerances in summer, which coincided with high sucrose levels in the tissue, comparable to those found in other musci during the winter. Highly frost-resistant musci had total sugar concentrations around 90–140 mM, of which at least 80% and often more than 90% was sucrose. Artificial degradation of sucrose during exposure of mosses to higher temperatures resulted in a decline in cold hardiness. The results signify that the concentration of sugars, mainly of sucrose, may be important for the frost tolerance of bryophytes.     

Bryophytes of the northern Yukon Territory,Canada, collected by A. J. Sharp and others

Two hundred and eight taxa of bryophytes, including two hundred and seven species, are reported from extreme northern Yukon. Five hepatic and eighteen moss taxa represent new records for the Yukon, which areAnastrophyllum hellerianum (Nees) Schust.,Scapania degenii Schiffn. in K. Müll.,Riccardia palmata (Hedw.) Carruth.,Mannia sibirica (K. Müll.) Frye & Clark,Sauteria alpina (Nees) Nees,Sphagnum orientale Savich,Dicranum spadiceum Zett.,Anoectangium aestivum (Hedw.) Mitt.,Barbula coreensis (Card.) Saito,B. platyneura C. Müll. & Kindb.,Pottia obtusifolia C. Müll.,Splachnum vasculosum Hedw.,Bryum acutiforme Limpr. ex Hag.,B. bimum (Brid.) Turn.,B. intermedium (Brid.) Bland.,B. neodamense Itzigs.,Cinclidium latifolium Lindb.,Timmia comata Lindb. & Arn.,Orthothecium acuminatum Bryhn,Cratoneuron arcticum Steere,Drepanocladus brevifolius (Lindb.) Warnst.,D. intermedius (Lindb.) Warnst., andD. lycopodioides (Brid.) Warnst. Many of the other collections represent significant extensions of ranges to the arctic sector of the Yukon Territory.     

A tribute to Dr Royce E. Longton

Abstract

The relationships within the Bryaceae, with emphasis on the genus Bryum, were studied based on morphological and anatomical characters and using cladistic methods. The analysis was performed with thirty-six species representing the different parts of the family, and with Funaria hygrometrica Hedw., Mnium hornum (Dicks.) Lindb., and Tayloria lingulata Hedw. as outgroups. The Bryaceae, and the subfamilies Bryoideae, Mielichhoferioideae, and Pohlioideae, as defined by several earlier authors appear to be paraphyletic. The genus Bryum seems to be paraphyletic, because Leptobryum pyriforme (Hedw.) Wils., Osculatia columbica De Not., and Rhodobryum giganteum (Schwaegr.) Paris, appear as ingroups within this genus when the tree is rooted with Funaria. Mnium hornum came out as the sister taxon of a clade including Pohlia cruda (Hedw.) Lindb. and P. longicollis (Hedw.) Lindb., whereas P. drummondii (Müll. Hall.) A.L. Andrews, appears not to be closely related to the other two Pohlia species studied here, making this genus paraphyletic. Mielichhoferia mielichhoferiana (Funck.) Loeske, appears as the sister taxon of Schizymenium bryoides Harv., suggesting that both these genera are paraphyletic. Overall, the stabilities of the clades are low and it is suggested that combined analyses of morphological, anatomical, and molecular data are needed to get better resolved and more stable trees.     

中国丝瓜藓属直蒴组的分类学研究

采用经典分类学研究方法,对河北师范大学植物标本馆(HBNU)等国内多个标本馆保存的中国丝瓜藓属直蒴组(Pohlia Hedw.section Cacodon Lindb.ex Broth.)及其近缘类群植物标本共计130余号进行了分类学分析鉴定,并对所确定的中国产直蒴组物种的芽胞大小、形状及叶原基数量和长度等形态学特征进行比较分析,以期为中国丝瓜藓属直蒴组的分类学研究提供理论依据。结果表明:(1)经鉴定中国丝瓜藓属直蒴组植物共有8种——夭命丝瓜藓[Pohlia annotina(Hedw.)Lindb.]、糙枝丝瓜藓[P.camptotrachela(Ren.Card.)Broth.]、林地丝瓜藓[P.drummondii(Müll.Hal.)Andr.]、疣齿丝瓜藓[P.flexuosa Harv.]、纤毛丝瓜藓[P.hisae T.J.Kop.et J.X.Luo]、异芽丝瓜藓[P.leucostoma(BoschSande Lac.)M.Fleisch.]、念珠丝瓜藓[P.lutescens(Limpr.)H.Lindb.]和卵蒴丝瓜藓[P.proligera(Kindb.ex Breidl.)Lindb.ex Arnell]。(2)中国丝瓜藓属直蒴组植物的重要鉴别特征是在假根或叶腋处生有芽胞,而且芽胞形状以及叶原基形状和数量在直蒴组中存在差异,如念珠丝瓜藓具有假根生芽胞,而疣齿丝瓜藓具有两型芽胞。(3)对所鉴定的中国丝瓜藓属直蒴组8种植物的识别特征、生境及其与相近种的关系进行了详细描述,并绘制了形态特征墨线图。     

On the identities of some neglected species of Grimmiaceae from Îles Kerguelen

Taxonomic status of five species of Grimmia Hedw. (G. minuta Müll.Hal., G. suborthotrichacea Müll.Hal., G. defoliata Müll.Hal., G. genuflexa Müll.Hal., and G. orthotrichacea Müll.Hal.) is appraised. All these species correctly belong within the genus Bucklandiella Roiv. They are actually inseparable from one another and represent a single species for which B. orthotrichacea (Müll.Hal.) Bednarek-Ochyra & Ochyra is chosen as the final name. The remaining four names are considered its synonyms, all but G. genuflexa being new. All the names are lectotypified and some details of the leaves of G. minuta and G. defoliata are illustrated.     

Entosthodon mouretii (Corb.) Jelenc new to Europe

Entosthodon mouretii (Corb.) Jelenc, a species related to E. fascicularis (Hedw.) C. Müll., is referred for the first time in Europe, from samples collected in Spain. The Spanish specimens are described and illustrated.     

In vitro assessment of antimicrobial activity of aqueous and alcoholic extracts of moss <Emphasis Type="Italic">Atrichum undulatum</Emphasis> (Hedw.) P. Beauv.

Bryophytes, the shade loving plants, have tremendous medicinal properties. The aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Atrichum undulatum (Hedw.) P. Beauv. were analysed for antimicrobial properties against the fungi Aspergillus fumigatus and Fusarium oxysporum and the bacteria Escherichia coli, Bacillus mycoides, Proteus mirabilis, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella typhi. The study is an attempt to investigate the medicinal properties of Atrichum undulatum (Hedw.) P. Beauv. using disc-diffusion method. No inhibition was observed against A. fumigatus and P. mirabilis. For bacteria S. typhi and E. coli (20 and 15 mm), aqueous and alcoholic extracts of Atrichum showed significant inhibition. However, alcoholic extract was found remarkably effective against bacteria rather than aqueous extract.     

potamolejeunea Holtii (Spruce) nov.comb.

Abstract

Bryophytes usually have anti-feeding properties to defend against microbial and herbivore attack; however, the consumption of Haplocladium microphyllum (Hedw.) Broth. capsules by Agrotis sp. larvae is rather common in Shanghai in the spring. To test whether H. microphyllum is the only moss eaten, and why the gametophytes of H. microphyllum are not eaten, a series of quantitative experiments were carried out to understand the feeding habits of Agrotis larvae on the given moss materials at three growth stages of larval life. The results show that the larvae can feed on the capsules of six moss species to different degrees: Funaria hygrometrica Hedw., H. microphyllum, Physcomitrium sphaericum (C.F.Ludw. ex Schkuhr) Brid., Trematodon longicollis Michx., Ditrichum pallidum (Hedw.) Hampe, and Pogonatum inflexum (Lindb.) Sande Lac. The capsules of the first four species were grazed heavily by the larvae, compared with limited consumption of the latter two (D. pallidum and P. inflexum), which even induced a high mortality rate among the larvae. With the growth of the larval instar, the daily demand for moss capsules by the larvae increases gradually. The lipid content of the capsules may play an important role when the larva selects its feeding target.     

Phylogenetic relationships between Bryum and supposedly closely related genera

Abstract

The phylogeny of the genus Bryum was studied using cladistic analyses under the maximum parsimony criterion of evolution of anatomical and morphological characters. Three analyses were made with 32 Bryum species plus 20 species from genera supposedly closely related to Bryum, and with Amblyodon dealbatus (Sw. ex Hedw.) Bruch & Schimp., Meesia uliginosa Hedw., and Leptostomum macrocarpum (Hedw.) Bach. Pyl., as outgroups. It is here suggested that under earlier systematic concepts the genus Bryum is paraphyletic. A clade with Bryum billarderi Schwägr., B. capillare Hedw., B. donianum Grev., B. russulum Broth. & Geh., Rhodobryum giganteum (Schwägr.) Paris, and R. keniae (Müll. Hal.) Broth. are circumscribed by spathulate stem leaves that are crowded in the stem apex, suggesting that the rosulate species of Bryum are more closely related to Rhodobryum than to the rest of Bryum. Stem leaf costae without stereids and spores that mature in the winter are synapomorphies for a clade with Anomobryum julaceum (P. Gaertn. et al.) Schimp. and Bryum argenteum (Hedw.). The tropical species B. cellulare Hook. and B. flaccum Wilson ex Mitt. appear in a clade with Plagiobryum zieri (Dicks. ex Hedw.) Lindb. and Synthetodontium pringlei Cardot. In one analysis, B. limbatum Müll. Hal., Epipterygium tozeri (Grev.) Lindb., Leptobryum pyriforme (Hedw.) Wilson, and Roellia roellii (Broth. ex Röll) H.A. Crum came out in a clade with Mniobryum atropurpureum (Wahlenb.) I. Hagen, Mnium hornum Hedw., Pohlia cruda (Hedw.) Lindb., P. longicollis (Hedw.) Lindb., and Pseudopohlia didymodontia (Mitt.) A.L.Andrews. It is here suggested that gametophytic features, such as the orientation and anatomy of the stem leaves and the appearance of vegetative propagules, are important for the internal relationships within the studied ingroup, whereas characters related to the sporophyte, especially those of the peristome, may obscure phylogenetic relationships. Most of the subgenera and the sections of Bryum, as defined by earlier authors, appear to be paraphyletic. However, due to the low stability of most clades it is suggested that analyses including anatomical, morphological, and molecular data are needed.     

Chromosome studies on some Turkish species of Grimmia Hedw.: G. laevigata (Brid.) Brid., G. ovalis (Hedw.) Lindb., G. pulvinata (Hedw.) Sm., G. trichophylla Grev.

In this research, mitotic chromosome numbers in four species of Grimmia Hedw. from Turkey were reported. Mitotic chromosome numbers of three species : Grimmia laevigata (Brid.) Brid. (n = 26), Grimmia ovalis (Hedw.) Lindb. (n = 10), Grimmia pulvinata (Hedw.) Sm. (n = 26) were reported for the first time. Grimmia trichophylla Grev. (n = 13) showed the same chromosome number as in a previous study.     

Contribution À L'Étude De Quelques Bryoassociations De L'Étage Subalpin Dans Le Sud-Est De La France

Resume Dans le présent travail, l'auteur effectue une étude bryosociologique de la strate muscinale des rochers et des marécages de l'étage subalpin dans le Sud-Est de la France. Il envisage en particulier les blocs siliceux ombragés occupés par le Grimmietum elatioris (avecGrimmia elatior Bruch,Orthotrichum rupestre Schleich,Grimmia funalis (Schwaegr.) Schimp.,G. doniana Sm.,Dicranum sauteri Schimp.) ainsi que les parois suintantes de gneiss (Blindio-Amphoridietum) colonisées parBlindia acuta (Huds) B.e.,Amphoridium mougeotti B.e.,Fissidens osmundoides Hedw.,Saccobasis polita (Nees) Bruch,Gymnostomum rupestre Schleich. Les rochers calcaires en exposition froide portent, sur le pourtour de l'Argentera-Mercantour l'association àEncalypta streptocarpa Hedw. etPlagiopus oederi (Schwaegr.) Schimp. (Encalypto-Plagiopetum) très largement répandue dans les Alpes du Sud, alors qu'au voisinage des cascades appara?t une formation tufogène montagnarde àHymenostylium recurvirostre (Hedw.) Dix etSouthbya nigrella (De Not) Spruce. Les tourbières àSphagnum acutifolium Warnst,S. teres Angst,S. platyphyllum Warnst,S. recurvum P.B.,Aulacomnium palustre (Hedw.) Schwaegr. etMeesea triquetra (Hedw.) Angst. semblent inféodées, dans les régions étudiées, au vieux massif cristallin (Lac Nègre, Boréon, Vallée des Merveilles) où elles se rencontrent à partir de 1900 mètres d'altitude. Enfin, les marécages sur calcaire ou sur flysch portent des peuplements à base deBryum pallens Sw.Philonotis fontana (Hedw.) Schwaegr.,Cratoneurum commutatum (Hedw.) Roth. avec par endroitsMeesea uliginosa Hedw. etAmblyodon dealbatus (Dicks) P.B.

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Summary In this work, the author carries out a bryosociological study concerning the vegetation on rocks and bogs in the subalpine district of the high mountains of southern France. He considers particularly the siliceous blocks covered with carpets ofGrimmia elatior Bruch,Orthotrichum rupestre Schleich,Grimmia funalis (Schwaegr.) Schimp.,G. doniana Sm.,Dicranum sauteri Schimp. (Grimmietum elatioris) and the oozing gneiss-walls (Blindio-Amphoridietum) colonized byBlindia acuta (Huds) B.e.,Amphoridium mougeotti B.e.,Fissidens osmumdoides Hedw.,Saccobasis polita (Nees) Bruch., andGymnostomum rupestre Schleich. On calcareous rocks, in cold places, surrounding the Argentera-Mercantour, he found an association withEncalypta streptocarpa Hedw. andPlagiopus oederi (Schwaegr.) Schimp., (Encalypto-Plagiopetum) which is very common in the southern alps, and near waterfalls occurs a travertinic mountain-formation withHymenostylium recurvirostre (Hedw.) Dix andSouthbya nigrella (De Not) Spruce. The peat-bogs containingSphagnum acutifolium Warnst.,S. teres Angst,S. platyphyllum Warnst.,S. recurvum P.B.,Aulacomnium palustre (Hedw.) Schwaegr. andMeesea triquetra (Hedw.) Angst. seem to be particular to the old crystalline chain where we found them at an altitude of 1900 meters. Finally, calcareous or flysch-bogs present a cryptogamic vegetation withBryum pallens Sew.,Philonotis fontana (Hedw.) Schwaegr.,Cratoneurum commutatum (Hedw.) Roth. and the rareMeesea uliginosa Hedw. andAmblyodon dealbatus (Dicks) P.B.

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Zusammenfassung In dieser Arbeit, führt der Verfasser ein bryosoziologisches Studien der Felsen und der Moore in der subalpinen Stufe Süd-Ost Frankreichs aus. Er beschreibt namentlich die Silikatbl?cke, die im Schatten der W?lder von dem Grimmietum elatioris (mitGrimmia elatior Bruch.,Orthotrichum rupestre Schleich.,Grimmia funalis (Schwaegr.) Schimp.,G. doniana Sm.,Dicranum sauteri Schimp.) bedeckt sind, und die feuchten Gneissw?nde (Blindio-Amphoridietum), die vonBlindia acuta (Huds.) B.e.,Amphoridium mougeotti B.e.,Fissidens osmundoides Hedw.,Saccobasis polita (Nees) Bruch.,Gymnostomum rupestre Schleich kolonisiert werden. Auf den kalkhaltigen Bl?cken, in der N?he des Argentera-Mercantour traf er eine Moosgesellschaft mitEncalypta streptocarpa Hedw. undPlagiopus oederi (Schwaegr.) Schimp. (Encalypto-Plagiopetum), die in den Süd-Alpen sehr h?ufig ist. An den Quellen und Wasserf?llen erscheint eine tufogene Bildung der montanen Stufe mitHymenostylium recurvirostre (Hedw.) Dix undSouthbya nigrella (De Not) Spruce. In unserer Gegend, sind die Torfmoore mitSphagnum acutifolium Warnst.,S. teres Angst,S. platyphyllum Warnst,S. recurvum P.B.,Aulacomnium palustre (Hedw.) Schwaegr., undMeesea triquetra (Hedw.) Angst. dem alten kristallartigen Gebirgsstock eng belehnt, wo wir sie immer ab 1900 meter gefunden haben. Endlich, tragen die Kalk oder Flysch-Sümpfe eine besondere Kryptogamenvegetation mitBryum pallens Sw.,Philonotis fontana (Hedw.) Schwaegr.,Cratoneurum commutatum (Hedw.) Roth. und manchmal die seltenenMeesea uliginosa Hedw. undAmblyodon dealbatus (Dicks) P.B.

     

Notes on mosses from Ceylon and India, 8. Another moss with three names in three continents

Abstract

Entodon dregeanus (Hornsch.) C.M., from Africa arid E. plicatus C.M., from southern India and Ceylon, are reduced to the synonymy of E. macropodus (Hedw.) C.M., an American species.     

Does the family Meesiaceae (Musci) occur in Africa?

Meesia kenyae P. Varde, a species originally described in 1955 from the altimontane elevation on Mt. Kenya in tropical East Africa, is briefly assessed taxonomically and some details of the type material are illustrated. This species is considered to be conspecific with Ceratodon purpureus (Hedw.) Brid., a weedy, cosmopolitan and highly protean species. Because M. kenyae is the only representative of the Meesiaceae in Africa, this taxonomic conclusion results in the exclusion of this small family from the bryoflora of this continent. Accordingly, the Meesiaceae are represented in the tropics only by three species, namely Meesia triquetra (Jolycl.) Ångstr. in Papua New Guinea, M. longiseta Hedw. in Colombia and M. ulei Müll. Hal. in Brazil.     

Observations of spore morphology of some Pottiaceae Schimp. species (Bryophyta) in Turkey

The spores of Syntrichia ruralis (Hedw.) F. Weber and D. Mohr., S. princeps (De Not.) Mitt., S. subulata (Hedw.) F.Weber and D.Mohr var. subulata, S. subulata (Hedw.) F.Weber and D.Mohr var. angustata (Schimp.) J.J. Amann and S. subulata (Hedw.) F.Weber and D.Mohr var. graeffii Warnst. were studied by light and scanning electron microscopy for the first time. The apertural region consists of a leptoma in all spores. All taxa of the family are uniform in their spore morphology. The spores of the five taxa are of granuloid type. The spore wall of the Pottiaceae family includes sclerine (the distinction between exine and perine may be difficult to define) and intine. The taxonomy of the genus Syntrichia is discussed on the basis of its spore morphology.