The Dicranidae are a widespread and diverse subclass of mosses in class Bryopsida, with many species of dry or disturbed areas. They are distinguished by their spores; the peristome teeth are haplolepideous with a 4:2:3 formula, and an exostome is absent.

Systematics

Traditionally, the Dricanidae comprised about six to eight orders. However, phylogenetic analysis using molecular markers suggested that Dicranales was paraphyletic with respect to Pottiales. <ref name=Bechteler-2023> A recently phylogenomic analysis led to a break-up of Dicranales and creation of a number of new small orders. The phylogenetic relationships recovered within Dicranidae are shown in the cladogram below. The orders Bryoxiphiales, Pseudoditrichales and Mitteniales were not sampled in this study.