• The order consists of a single genus, Calobryum and 8 species, most of

them occupying restricted ranges in apparently relic areas indicative of

an ancient origin and dispersal.
• The order is considered primitive in comparison with the
Jungermanniales, in which the leafy axis tends to be prostrate and the
under leaves reduced.
• They are characterized by prostrate, simple or branched, leafless stems
and erect, leafy branches of a radial organization.
• Leaves flattened and in three rows on an erect shoot arising from a colourless,
subterranean, rootlike system that lacks rhizoids;
• sex organs lateral but near shoot apices;
• sporophytes with elongate seta; sporangium elongate, with elaters and
thickenings on the jacket cell walls;
• opening by 1–4 longitudinal lines; mainly of mid-latitudes,
• most species in the Australasian and Indo-Malayan region; 1 extinct genus,
Haplomitrium.
• Leaves are elliptic to broadly orbicular, and unistratose , except at the
base, margins are entire.
• Internal differentiation shows central colourless zone of elongated
cells and peripheral zone of thicker cortical cells containing oil
droplets.
• Cells of central strand act as hydroids of mosses and act as water
conducting system for aerial shoots.
• These cells lack cytoplasm.
• Outer most layer of shoot has thin cuticle and contains plastids.
• Plants are dioecious.
• Male reproductive organs are lateral and axillary on male shoot.
• Apical leaves form a cup like rosette in which several antheridia are
seen often condensed.
• Each antheridium has a stout stalk and subspherical body.
• Archegonia are also terminal in position ( apical cell).
• Neck of archegonium is very long, twisted and is made up of four
vertical rows of neck cell which in turn enclose a vertical row of 16 to
20 or more neck canal cells.
• Archegonia remain protected by perichaetial leaves.
• Single archegonium is only fertilized on each shoot.
• Massive calyptra is formed surrounding the sporophyte.
• Wall of capsule is unistratose except at top.
• Spores and tapered elaters with 2 or 3 spiral thickening are seen.
• Opening of capsule takes place by 4 valves , which may remain united.