Number of species in the collection: 133.
Orders:
Bryales (Group of Bryum, Mnium and similars, with some species very common)
Dicranales (Group of Dicranum, Fissidens and similars)
Encalyptales (A small group containing Encalypta and similars)
Funariales (A small group containing Funaria, Enthostodon, and similars)
Grimmiales (Group of Grimmia, Schistidium and similars)
Hedwigiales (A small group containing Hedwigia and similars)
Hypnales (A big and common group containing pleurocarpic species)
Orthotrichales (Group of Orthotrichum, Schistidium, Ulota, ...)
Pottiales (Group of Tortula, Pleurochaete and similars, with species adapted to dry climates)
Rhizogoniales (Group of Rhizogonium and relatives, ...)
Pictures of Bryopsida:
Characteristics of Bryopsida:
The Bryopsida class has a worldwide distribution, from the poles to tropical
deserts and continental waters, being only absent in oceanic waters. They are
common organisms, dominant in some ecosystems such as tundra or cloud forests.
Within this group are the typical mosses, with 95% of all moss species found
here. Many of their species are capable of living on bare rock, making them one
of the first organisms to colonize new lands and begin soil formation, promoting
the establishment of higher plants. Other species can only live on specific
substrates or in mature, uncontaminated forests. Species living in aquatic
environments are always found in highly oxygenated areas, such as on waterfall
walls or in clean, flowing streams, dying if the water becomes stagnant or
oxygen levels drop.
Many of these species have the ability to dehydrate, entering a state of
dormancy. Many of these species have specialized structures to retain water for
as long as possible. For example, they often have lamellar or irregular
expansions on the upper surface of their leaves, causing water to be retained by
capillarity and delaying evaporation, thus extending the photosynthesis period.
Other species have papillose extensions on the epidermal cells, creating a very
irregular surface through which water rises by capillarity, promoting water from
the soil to rise along the moss surface and cover the surface of the plant.
Another common adaptation is to have a cushion-shaped form and a leaf ending in
a long hair, creating a layer of still air between the moss and the atmosphere
and delaying the evaporation of water retained by capillarity.
The following cladogram shows the evolutionary relationships of the different
orders:
Class: Bryopsida