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The Bryaceae is large family of mosses represented by 6 genera and
27 species in Tasmania. Members of the Bryaceae often grow as short
turfs or cushions in a variety of habitats ranging from urban areas,
dry forests to alpine regions. The capsules of the Bryaceae have a
characteristic look - in most taxa the seta is straight and typically always bent
at the top such that the capsule is pointing downwards. With the
exception of a few species, sterile specimens are often very
inconspicuous and are notoriously difficult to identify down to
species, and even to genus. The taxonomy of the family is extremely unstable
and in a constant state of
flux. Three families of mosses, the
Orthodontiaceae,
Mniaceae and the
Leptostomataceae have been split from the Bryaceae in recent
years and many genera in the Bryaceae are still under taxonomic
investigation.
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