Central America has one of the most diverse moss floras in the world. Its 871 species are found in an area three-fourths the size of Texas. Indeed, it has roughly the same number of mosses as Colombia, which is nearly twice as large. There are several factors responsible for this remarkable diversity. Central America is a tropical region with a diverse landscape marked by great vertical relief. Thus, the region provides a broad range of habitats in a small area. Central America also has an eclectic moss flora that has benefited from its physical closeness to three distinct and diverse species-source areas: South America, North America and the Caribbean.