Leucobryum Giganteum

''Leucobryum'' is a genus of haplolepideous mosses (Dicranidae) in the family Leucobryaceae. The name comes from the Greek leukos, meaning white, and bryon, meaning moss.

Description

Leucobryum species are in found in erect, dense, and often rounded cushions. Their color varies from white to grayish or bluish-green. Species are characterized by having thick, whitish leaves with a large, expanded costa. It has been suggested that the characteristic pale color exhibited by some species is caused by air bubbles in the leucocysts. The bubbles are theorized to be necessary for the function of the chlorocysts for the purpose of gas exchange.

Species are dioecious, with male plants stunted and found growing among the leaves of the female plants. Sporophytes are rare.

There are approximately 122 species of Leucobryum worldwide. Only two species are known to occur in North America.

Species

Species adapted from The Plant List;

*'' Leucobryum acutifolium''
*'' Leucobryum aduncum''
*'' Leucobryum albicans''
*'' Leucobryum albidum''
*'' Leucobryum antillarum''
*'' Leucobryum arfakianum''
*'' Leucobryum boninense''
*'' Leucobryum boryanum''
*''Leucobryum bowringii''
*'' Leucobryum candidum''
*'' Leucobryum chlorophyllosum''
*'' Leucobryum clavatum''
*'' Leucobryum crispum''
*'' Leucobryum giganteum''
*''Leucobryum glaucum''
*''Leucobryum gracile''
*''Leucobryum guadalupense''
*''Leucobryum humillimum''
*''Leucobryum incurvifolium''
*''Leucobryum iridans''
*''Leucobryum javense''
*''Leucobryum juniperoideum''
*'' Leucobryum madagassum''
*'' Leucobryum martianum''
*'' Leucobryum mayottense''
*'' Leucobryum neilgherrense''
*'' Leucobryum neocaledonicum''
*'' Leucobryum piliferum''
*'' Leucobryum propaguliferum''
*'' Leucobryum pungens''
*'' Leucobryum rehmannii''
*'' Leucobryum sanctum''
*'' Leucobryum seemannii''
*'' Leucobryum sphagnoides''
*'' Leucobryum subobtusifolium''
*'' Leucobryum sumatranum''

References

Dicranales
Moss genera

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