''Beeveria'' is a genus of
moss
Mosses are small, non-vascular flowerless plants in the taxonomic division Bryophyta (, ) '' sensu stricto''. Bryophyta (''sensu lato'', Schimp. 1879) may also refer to the parent group bryophytes, which comprise liverworts, mosses, and hor ...
endemic
Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found elsew ...
to
New Zealand
New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...
, in the family
Daltoniaceae
Daltoniaceae is a family of moss in the order Hookeriales.
Taxonomy
Family Daltoniaceae contains the following genera:
* '' Achrophyllum ''
* '' Adelothecium''
* '' Beeveria''
* '' Benitotania''
* '' Bryobrothera''
* '' Calyptrochaeta'' ...
. It is a
monotypic
In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispec ...
genus with characteristics of the
type species
In zoological nomenclature, a type species (''species typica'') is the species name with which the name of a genus or subgenus is considered to be permanently taxonomically associated, i.e., the species that contains the biological type specimen ...
, including solely the species ''Beeveria distichophylloides''. The name honours the New Zealand bryologist Jessica Eleanor Beever.
Description
Habitat
''Beeveria distichophylloides'' is
saxicolous and grows in a wide variety of places in
lowland to
montane forests. It favours
calcareous
Calcareous () is an adjective meaning "mostly or partly composed of calcium carbonate", in other words, containing lime or being chalky. The term is used in a wide variety of scientific disciplines.
In zoology
''Calcareous'' is used as an adje ...
rocks such as limestone and can be mainly found growing in cave entrances, along the side of shaded streams, and in ravines and gorges.
It has, however, been found on logs and even on the base of trees.
''Beeveria distichophylloides'' also prefers areas with high rainfall and enjoys growing on damp surfaces.
Distribution
Endemic to New Zealand and found in the North, South, and Chatham Islands.
References
Hookeriales
Bryophyta of New Zealand
Monotypic moss genera
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