The Ambuchananiaceae is a monotypic (with a single genus) moss
family with the only representative, Ambuchanania leucobryoides,
endemic to Tasmania. The moss is named after the original collector,
Alex M. Buchanan.
The Ambuchananiaceae differs from the Sphagnaceae in having elongate
antheridia, location of chlorophyll-bearing cells in cross-section and ringed
thickenings in leaf hyaline cells.
A. leucobryoides appears to be restricted to Southwest Tasmania. It
has been collected from white quartzitic sand deposited by alluvial
flow and also at the margins of buttongrass sedgeland.
The stems of A. leucobryoides are around 2cm long, bearing
branches sparsely and irregularly.
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