The shift from traditional taxonomic methods to data-oriented, analytical cladistic methodologies has led to a better understanding of biological processes and more accurate classifications for a wide range of organisms, including mosses. Pleurocarpous Mosses: Systematics and Evolution explores the impact of these methods through recent breakthroughs in research on the evolution and phylogeny of pleurocarpous mosses.

This book emphasizes the use of cutting-edge analytical methods, morphological characters, and the use of morphological and molecular data in systematics. It investigates the interrelationships within various moss families in which pleurocarpous morphology appears and their related taxa. The authors examine higher-level relationships to construct the backbone phylogeny of the group and set up relations within subgroups. They present new results derived from molecular data, phylogenetic analyses, and a variety of analytical methods used to evaluate the processes of morphological evolution, including growth patterns, leaf structure, and other morphological features. The final chapters explore the fossil history of pleurocarpous mosses and discuss a proposed timeline for the evolution of critical nodes. They also address wider evolutionary questions relevant to the origin and maintenance of species diversity.

In addition to upgrading the current knowledge of this complex group of organisms, Pleurocarpous Mosses: Systematics and Evolution also raises the standards of analysis and offers a paradigm for resolving phylogenetic relationships and classifying lesser-known taxonomic groups.