Grimmia subg. Litoneuron Hagen, K. Norsk. Vid. Selsk. Skrift. 1909 (5): 6, 10. 1909.
Authors: Roxanne I. Hastings & Dr. Henk C. Greven
Plants 1--4 cm. Stem central strand present. Stem leaves broadly oblong-ovate to narrowly ovate-lanceolate or ligulate from an ovate base, concave, margins plane or incurved, costa immersed, distal lamina 2--3-stratose. Sexual condition dioicous. Seta straight or sigmoid, centrally attached to capsule. Capsule exserted, smooth; stomates present (except in G. serrana and G. hamulosa), small, at base of capsule; calyptra mitrate to cucullate, covering operculum.
Species 14 (7 in flora): North America; Eurasia; Africa; Mexico; Central America; South America; Indian Ocean Islands; Australia.
Members of this subgenus are recognized by their thick, concave leaves with plane margins and costa not projecting prominently from the lamina. They have a well-developed central strand. They are dioicous, and capsules are not common, but if present are usually long-exserted on a straight or rarely only slightly sigmoid seta. The annulus is typically large and prominent but is lacking in Grimmia hamulosa. Members of the subgenus have broad habitat preferences ranging from dry exposed rocks to stream banks and cliff faces along lake shores. They are found on acidic to basic rocks ranging from near sea level up to the alpine zone.
