Cratoneuron (Sullivant in A. Gray) Spruce, 1867.

Cratoneuron has traditionally included the mosses now placed in Palustriella. These two genera were placed together because of the presence of paraphyllia in both groups. In most specimens, these paraphyllia can be found only with careful searching. The paraphyllia of Cratoneuron are linear while those of Palustriella are lanceolate. The classification that we have here adopted places the two genera in different families based upon the differences in leaf shape and plication, as well as differences in median cell length. The species in both genera are semiaquatic mosses, often in calcareous sites. In the field, both might be thought to be Brachythecium except for the much stronger and thicker costa. Even in the field, excised leaves can be seen to have much enlarged and thin-walled alar cells in large groups. Cratoneuron is abundant in alkaline seeps, springs and creeks in desert and Great Basin localities, as well as in the high mountains.
see key to Drepanocladus Etc.

Species included:
Cratoneuron filicinum (Hedwig) Spruce