Takakia lepidozioides | |
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Takakia lepidoziodes on a damp slope above Takakia Lake, Haida Gwaii | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Division: | Bryophyta |
Subdivision: | Takakiophytina |
Class: | Takakiopsida |
Order: | Takakiales |
Family: | Takakiaceae |
Genus: | Takakia |
Species: | T. lepidozioides
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Binomial name | |
Takakia lepidozioides |
Takakia lepidozioides is a species of moss in the Takakiaceae family, one of two species of Takakia. It is characterized by its tiny bifid leaves in which each segment is only a few cells wide, conspicuous rhizomous shoots, and long leafless stolon shoots which facilitate the colonization of bare areas. A very unusual feature is the lack of male plants within the species, which are thought to have become extinct during an ice age. Takakia lepidozioides have been found to be a highly adaptive moss. Over the past 65 million years, there have been extreme changes in the climate, however, several molecular adaptations have been observed in this species. [2]