Genera: Crossomitrium, Hookeria.
Region: nearly worldwide, tropical and temperate regions.
Genera: 2; ± 8 species.
BotanyMoss; medium-sized to large, in creeping mats or patches.
Stems: green, loosely complanate-foliate; hyalodermis and sclerodermis absent, central strand present.
Leaves: broad, dorsal leaves often broader, more symmetric than lateral leaves; margins plane, entire, unbordered; apex rounded-obtuse to sharply or broadly acute, flat; ecostate; laminal cells large, lax, smooth, uniform across insertion and base or somewhat shorter than medial.
Specialized asexual reproduction by filaments among apical leaf rhizoids, filaments unbranched, 1-seriate, subpapillose. Sexual condition autoicous or sometimes dioicous; perigonia on stem, gemmate.
Seta: red to reddish or blackish, elongate, smooth.
Capsule: suberect to pendulous, smooth; exothecial cells strongly collenchymatous; annulus distinct; peristome dark red, diplolepidous; exostome unfurrowed, with zigzag median line; endostome basal membrane high, segments extending barely beyond exostome teeth, ± perforate, cilia rudimentary or absent.
Calyptra: somewhat lobed at base, multistratose at middle, smooth, naked.
TaxonomyHookeriaceae once consisted of many genera. Currently it is recognized as comprising two genera with ten species, only two of which are well known. The absolute absence of a costa in the leaves is a major character separating this family from those closely related.