Lepidoziaceae Limpr.
Lepidoziaceae Limpr. in Cohn, Krypt.-Fl. Schlesien 1: 310. 1875 (“Lepidozieae”).
Zoopsidaceae Nakai in Ogura, Ord. Fam. Trib. Gen. Sect. ... nov. ed. 199. 1943.
Bazzaniaceae Nakai in Ogura, Ord. Fam. Trib. Gen. Sect. ... nov. ed. 200. 1943.
Hyalolepidoziaceae Fulford, Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 11: 376. 1968.
Regredicaulaceae Fulford, Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 11: 358. 1968.
Paracromastigaceae Fulford, Mem. New York Bot. Gard. 11: 384. 1968.
Type: Lepidozia (Dumort.) Dumort.
Plants with gametophytes highly variable, normally leafy and isophyllous to strongly anisophyllous, thallose in a few genera, the plants erect to creeping, typically green, sometimes developing brown or fuscous pigments (never with reddish pigmentation), robust to minute. Branching plastic, variable, often abundant and regular, at times 1–2(3)-pinnate or-pseudo-dichotomous, the branches often of Frullania type, occasionally also of Microlepidozia or Acromastigum types; intercalary branches also present, often ventral, sporadically lateral; nearly always with geotropic stoloniform or flagelliform branches. Stems with cortex variably differentiated, the diameter of cortical cells normally slightly to greatly larger than those of medullary cells, a hyalodermis formed in some taxa. Rhizoids from stem in fascicles at underleaf bases, occasionally from underleaf disc cells, also at bases of leaves of microphyllous branches. Leaves normally large and well developed, vestigial and 1- or few-celled in a few genera, the insertion variable: transverse to incubous to succubous, the lines of insertion extending to stem midline dorsally or not reaching the stem midline and delimiting a leaf-free strip of stem cells; leaves 3–4-fid ranging to, less often, 5–12-fid by typically entire lobes, at times bifid, exceptionally unlobed, the leaf margins mostly entire, rarely ciliate. Cells variable, thin- to thick-walled, trigones small to large, rarely large and knot-like or altogether lacking; surface variable: smooth or finely to coarsely papillose, or glaucous, waxy and water-repellent. Oil-bodies present, granular to botryoidal, absent in various taxa. Underleaves often 3–4 or more lobed, sometimes unlobed, in some taxa present as 1- or 2-celled vestiges, but a distinct ventral merophyte at least 2 cells wide present in all taxa. Asexual reproduction, if present, by tubers in various taxa, by fragmenting lobe tips (e.g., Telaranea, Kurzia, Lepidozia) or by caducous leaves (Bazzania), never by gemmae.
Dioecious in most taxa, sporadically autoecious. Androecia typically on short, spicate ventral-intercalary branches from leading shoots, exceptionally terminal on short to moderately long Frullania- type branches; bracts often moderately to markedly smaller than sterile leaves, usually monandrous, the antheridial stalk 1- or 2-seriate; bracteolar antheridia rare. Gynoecia nearly exclusively on abbreviated ventral-intercalary branches lacking normal vegetative leaves, rarely on lateral-intercalary branches or terminal on leading shoots. Bracts and bracteoles similar (the gynoecia triradial), in 2–several series, usually larger and different from leaves and underleaves, dentate to lobulate to (often) shallowly to deeply lobed. Perianth fusiform, often terete below and bluntly trigonous above, tapered to the mouth, comprised of ± elongated cells; mouth variable, denticulate to shallowly lobulate to more often laciniate or ciliate.
Seta with (4), 8, 12, or 16 rows of epidermal layers, the inner cells smaller, 16–24(34) to 12 or fewer, rarely as few as 6 or 4. Capsule ellipsoidal to obloid, the valves erect, nonspiral, the wall 2–5(6)-layered; outer layer of cells ± tiered, rectangular, with two-phase development, the primary longitudinal and all transverse walls normally lacking pigmented thickenings, alternating with the secondary (longitudinal) walls with conspicuous radial (nodular) thickenings; inner layer of cells with weak to distinct semiannular bands.
Spores papillose-vermiculate or reticulate-areolate, 1–3× elater diam. Elaters bispiral, blunt-tipped.
Schuster (2000a) recognized eight subfamilies. One of these, the Neogrolleoideae, was removed by Engel and Braggins (2001) and placed in an independent family, Neogrolleaceae. One subfamily, the Megalembidioideae, was added (Engel and Braggins, 2005). The eight subfamilies are as follows, the first six occur in New Zealand:
1) Subfam.Lepidozioideae, with six genera, five of which occur in New Zealand. The sixth, Sprucella Steph., has two species, both in tropical–subtropical Africa.
2) Subfam.Bazzanioideae Rodway has four genera, two (Bazzania, Acromastigum) are larger genera that are widely distributed in the southern temperate zone, including New Zealand. One, Dendrobazzania R.M.Schust. & W.B.Schofield, is monotypic and is known only from Bhutan and the Queen Charlotte Islands. The other, Mastigopelma Mitt., has three species and occurs in Samoa, Borneo-Sarawak and the Louisade Archipelago.
3) Subfam.Drucelloideae (Boesen) R.M.Schust. has only the monotypic Drucella E.A.Hodgs. which occurs in our area.
4) Subfam.Lembidioideae R.M.Schust. has four genera, all with representatives in New Zealand.
5) Subfam.Megalembidioideae Engel has only the monotypic Megalembidium R.M.Schust. of New Zealand.
6) Subfam.Zoopsidoideae R.M.Schust. consists of eight genera, five of which occur in New Zealand. Of the extraterritorial genera, Monodactylopsis (R.M.Schust.) R.M.Schust. has two species, both of Brazil; Odontoseries Fulford is monotypic and is known only from Venezuela; and Pteropsiella Spruce has two Neotropical species from the Amazonian–Orinoco drainage.
7) Subfam.Micropterygioideae Grolle consists of two Neotropical genera, Micropterygium Lindenb., Nees & Gottsche, with ca. 18–19 species, and the monotypic Mytilopsis Spruce.
8) Subfam.Protocephalozioideae R.M.Schust. has only the monotypic Protocephalozia (Spruce) Goebel of the Neotropics.
