Plants robust, up to 15 cm high, whitish green to brownish yellow, shiny when dry. Stem cortex in 2–3 layers, hyaline cells thin-walled, without fibrils and pores; central cylinder yellowish red. Stem leaves 1.3–1.4 mm × 0.7–0.8 mm, isosceles-triangular, with dentate, narrow and blunt apices; borders differentiated, slightly widened at base; hyaline cells narrowly rhomboidal below, short-rhomboidal above, mostly divided, without fibrils, sometimes with the traces of fibrils in the upper cells, numerous irregular pores on the ventral surface. Branch leaves 1.4–1.7 mm × 0.6–0.8 mm, broadly ovate-lanceolate at base, abruptly narrowed to acuminate apex, margins involute above, dentate at the apex; borders narrowed, hyaline cells densely fibrillose, with numerous large, rounded pores near the margins on the ventral surface, fewer near the central parts, small pores in the upper cells and gradually enlarged to elliptic pores below on the dorsal surface, with large, rounded pores near margins at base; green cells in cross section isosceles-triangular, exposed on the ventral surface, enclosed by hyaline cells on the dorsal surface. Dioicous. Sporophytes not seen.

Type. India: Assam.

Chinese specimens examined: ANHUI: Huang Shan, P.-J. Lin 206 (IBSC, KUN). FUJIAN: Wuyi Shan, D.-K. Li 12735, 18994 (KUN, SHM); Yan-ping Co., X.-X. Zhong 53 (PE). HAINAN: Wuzhi Shan, D.-K. Li 4366 (KUN, SHM). HEILONGJIANG: Dailing, J. Wang 4456 (IFSBH, KUN); Wuying, P.-C. Chen 541 (IFSBH, KUN, PE); Yi-chun Co., X.-L. Zhu 109 (PE, MO). JIANGXI: Jinggang Shan (Mt.), D.-K. Li 16877 (KUN, SHM); Lu Shan (Mt.), D.-K. Li 17040 (KUN, MO, SHM). SICHUAN: Bao-xing Co., G.-L. Qu 3425 (KUN); between Yanyuan and Yalongjiang, Handel-Mazzetti 5584 (KUN, PE). YUNNAN: Bi-jiang, M. Zang 3093, 5547 (KUN); Gong-shan Co., D.-C. Zhang 658 (KUN, MO); Zhao-tong Co., X.-L. Qiu 74001 (KUN); Teng-chong Co., X.-J. Li 80410 (KUN, MO). ZHEJIANG: Wenzhou City, D.-K. Li 8553, 8579 (KUN, SHM), D.-K. Li & C.-H. Gao 8542 (KUN, MO); Sui-chang Co., Z.-L. Liu 550, 31616 (KUN, SHM), P.-C. Wu 247, 519 (KUN, PE).

Habitat: in bogs, on moist rocky soil or rocks near streams with dripping water under coniferous forests; Distribution: China, India, and Himalayas.

This species is similar to Sphagnum junghuhnianum, but it differs from the latter in having the divided hyaline cells of stem leaves often without distinct fibrils and pores and in having branch leaves broadly ovate with abruptly acuminate apices. In contrast, S. junghuhnianum has undivided hyaline cells of stem leaves with fibrils and pores and has branch leaves narrowly ovate with gradually acuminate apices.

Illustrations: Pl. 1, figs. 1–7.