Abstract
Cellular patterns on the peristome of Mittenia plumula (Mitt.) Lindb., as revealed by scanning electron microscopy, support the interpretation made by Ilma Stone in 1961 that the peristome of this species is neither haplolepideous nor diplolepideous. The outer peristome teeth of Mittenia are homologous to the endostome of diplolepideous mosses, and to the single peristome of haplolepideous mosses. There is no other peristomial structure known in mosses that is homol- ogous to the inner peristome of Mittenia. The Mitteniaceae are removed from the Bryales, and a new order, the Mitteniales, is recognized. The Sorapillaceae and Eustichiaceae, traditionally placed near the Mitteniaceae, have peristomes that are probably derived from the haplolepideous type. The Mitteniaceae is a monotypic family rep- resented by Mittenia plumula (Mitt.) Lindb. Plants of Mittenia are very small (2-4 mm high), acrocarpous, and have somewhat complanate foliation. The oblong-linguate to obovate leaves are obliquely inserted, have well-developed
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