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Syrrhopodon: A Diverse Genus of Mosses

Syrrhopodon is a genus of mosses belonging to the family Calymperaceae. This is a large and diverse genus with a broad ecological range.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Syrrhopodon Schwgr.
• Family: Calymperaceae
• Class: Bryopsida (True Mosses)
• Division: Bryophyta
• Order: Dicranales or Pottiales (depending on source)

Common Names

• Syrrhopodon Moss
• Incomplete Syrrhopodon Moss (for Syrrhopodon incompletus)
• Texan Syrrhopodon Moss (for Syrrhopodon texanus)
• Ligulate Syrrhopodon Moss (for Syrrhopodon ligulatus)
• Gaudichaud's Syrrhopodon Moss (for Syrrhopodon gaudichaudii)

Distribution and Habitat

• Syrrhopodon is a pantropical moss clade, meaning it's distributed across tropical regions worldwide.
• Specific locations mentioned include Queensland (Australia), Nigeria, Hong Kong, Malawi, Venezuela, Mexico (Chiapas), the Seychelles, Hawaii Island, Martinique, Surinam, and the coastal plain of the southeastern United States.
• It is found in low humid forests and cypress swamps.

Morphological Characteristics

• Leaves of Syrrhopodon gametophytes are distinguished by a specialized zone of dead empty cells at their base.
• Syrrhopodon incompletus, uniquely within its genus in the flora area, lacks hyaline cells on the leaf margins.

Ecological Role

• Some species, like Syrrhopodon prolifer, have been recorded as alien species in certain parks, suggesting potential invasiveness.

Specific Species

• Syrrhopodon cyrtacanthos: A species described from Queensland, Australia.
• Syrrhopodon obuduensis: A species from Nigeria.
• Syrrhopodon spiculosus: A species that has been revised.
• Syrrhopodon gardneri: A species within the genus.
• Syrrhopodon lonchophyllus: Found in Hong Kong.
• Syrrhopodon ligulatus: Also known as Ligulate Syrrhopodon Moss.
• Syrrhopodon incompletus: Also known as Incomplete Syrrhopodon Moss. Found in the southeastern United States.
• Syrrhopodon texanus: Also known as Texan syrrhopodon moss.
• Syrrhopodon japonicus and Syrrhopodon armatus: Unrecorded moss species from Korean Flora III.
• Syrrhopodon gaudichaudii: Also known as Gaudichaud's Syrrhopodon Moss.
• Syrrhopodon prolifer: Another species within the genus.
• Syrrhopodon africanus subsp. graminicola and Syrrhopodon hornschuchii: New moss records for Mexico.
• Syrrhopodon steyermarkii: A new moss species from Venezuela
• Syrrhopodon tristichus: Found on Mt. Trus Madi
• Syrrhopodon cryptocarpos: Found in tropical America, Martinique and Surinam.

Interactions with Other Organisms

• Syrrhopodon armatus has been observed growing on a red-barked Callistemon species.
• Other mosses that have been recorded growing in the same location are Leucobryum aduncum, Campylopus serratus, Syrrhopodon ciliates and Vesicularia montagnei.

Further Information

• The Plant List: [Link to The Plant List if available]
• Index Nominum Genericorum: [Link to Index Nominum Genericorum if available]
• NYBG (New York Botanical Garden): [Link to NYBG if available]
• GBIF Backbone Taxonomy: [Link to GBIF Backbone Taxonomy if available]
• ResearchGate: For information on type specimens.
• ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System): [Link to ITIS if available]
• Biodiversitylibrary.org: [Link to Biodiversitylibrary.org if available]