Kiaeria (plant)

Kiaeria is a genus of haplolepideous mosses (Dicranidae) of the family Dicranaceae. The genus is named after Franz Caspar Kiaer (1835-1893), a Norwegian doctor and bryologist.

Description
The moss is similar to small Dicranum species and form loose to dense cushions. The stems are erect, 1-2 inches high (occasionally higher) and are sparsely fibrous with rhizoids below. The leaves are lanceolate, erect-spreading, sometimes falcate, with full margins, to cut up against the blade tip, with emerging veining. The leaf cells are elongated at the leaf base and smooth, the top sheet portion extends to approximately square and smooth. The leaf wing cells are clearly differentiated.

The spore capsule, at the end of the 7-16 millimeter-long seta is strumose and more or less inclined. The capsule lid is beaked. The peristome teeth are divided in about the middle.

Distribution
Kiaeria species are found in the northern hemisphere in the arctic and subalpine to alpine areas. They grow on silicate rocks and on the ground.

Species
Six species have been described:


 * Blytt's kiaeria moss, Kiaeria blyttii
 * sickle kiaeria moss, Kiaeria falcata
 * Kiaeria glacialis
 * Kiaeria pumila
 * Kiaeria riparia
 * Starke's kiaeria moss, Kiaeria starkei