Fissidens cristatus Wils. ex Mitt., J. Proc. Linn. Soc., Bot., Suppl. 1: 137. 1859. Fissidens decipiens De Not., Atti R. Univ. Genova 1: 479. 1869. Fissidens micro-japonicus Par., Rev. Bryol. 35: 125. 1908. Type. China: Jiangsu (Kiang Sou), Li-Ku-Kei, II. 1908. R. P. Courtois 1076 (isotype ? H-BR). Fissidens obsoleto-marginatus C. Müll., Nuovo Giorn. Bot. Ital., n. ser. 3: 89. 1896. Type. Shaanxi (Schen-si), in medio monte Kuan-tou-san and Zu-lu, VIII 1894, P. J. Giraldi s.n.

Plants green to brownish. Leafy stems simple, rarely branched, 10–50 mm long, 3.5–5.0 mm wide; axillary hyaline nodules not differentiated; central strand well differentiated. Leaves in 13–58 pairs, rather densely arranged; the lowermost leaves small, upper leaves much larger; middle to upper leaves lanceolate, 3.2–3.5 mm × 0.7–0.8 mm, distinctly crisped when dry, acute to narrowly acute at apex; base of dorsal laminae rounded to shortly decurrent; vaginant laminae 3/5 – 2/3 the leaf length, equal or slightly unequal; costa stout, percurrent; margins irregularly toothed near the apex, finely crenulate to serrulate below, bordered by a lighter colored band of 3–5 rows of incrassate, smooth, paler cells, this lighter-colored band one cell to rarely two cells thick in cross section, much clearer on apical and dorsal laminae than on vaginant laminae; cells of apical and dorsal laminae usually rounded-hexagonal, rarely elliptical-ovate, 10–11 µm long, distinctly mammillose, obscure, apical laminae one cell thick, but occasionally two 2 cells thick; cells of vaginant laminae similar to those of apical and dorsal laminae, but less mammillose. Phyllodioicous. Male plants small, ca. 1 mm long, growing from vaginant laminae of female plants. Female inflorescences axillary. Perichaetial leaves much smaller than stem leaves, ovate-lanceolate, 1.0–1.3 mm long. Archegonia ca. 300 µm long. Setae lateral, 5–8 mm long, smooth; capsules slightly inclined, asymmetrical; urns 0.8–1.4 mm long; exothecial cells quadrate to oblong with thickened vertical walls and thinner transverse walls; opercula long rostrate, ca. 1.6 mm long; peristome teeth 0.5–0.6 mm long. Calyptrae campanulate, ca. 1.6 mm long.

Type. U.S.A.

Chinese specimens examined: ANHUI: Huang Shan (Mt.), P.-C. Chen et al. 6651 (H, MO, PE). FUJIAN: Fu-zhou City, D.-K. Li 1500 (SHM, SYS); Min-nan Co., M. Zang 488 (HKAS, SYS); Nan-ping Co., C. Gao & Z.-W. Ao 3850 (IFSBH, SYS); Wu-yi Shan (Mt.), P.-J. Lin 2388 (IBSC, SYS). GANSU: Wen Co., Z.-P. Wei 6821 (HKAS, NICH). GUANGDONG: Feng-kai Co., L. Sun & J.-L. Zhang 90 (SYS); Huai-ji Co., Z.-H. Li 34 (SYS); Ru-yuan Co., P.-J. Lin 6856 (IBSC, SYS); Shi-xing Co., P.-J. Lin & Y.-Y. Yang 4671 (IBSC, SYS). GUANGXI: Long-sheng Co., P.-C. Wu & Y.-X. Lin 938 (PE, SYS); Rong-shui Co., M.-Z. Wang 46702 (MO). GUIZHOU: Gui-yang City, Y.-M. Huang & Z.-L. Chen 0001 (PE, SYS); Fan-jing Shan (Mt.), C. Gao & J.-Y. Feng 31903 (IFSBH, SYS); Sui-yang Co., C. Gao & J.-Y. Feng 32962 (IFSBH, SYS). HEILONGJIANG: Ning-an Co., S.-E. Liu 4425 (IFSBH, SYS). HUBEI: Da-sheng-nong-jia, G.-C. Zhang & E.-Z. Bai 33907 (IFSBH, SYS); Wu-feng Co., Y.-S. Fu 5–042 (IFSBH, SYS). HUNAN: Da-yong Co., D.-K. Li 17883 (SHM, SYS); Liu-yang Co., 1974 Team 404 (IBSC, SYS); Song-zhi Co., D.-K. Li 18298 (SHM. SYS). JIANGSU: Chang-shu Co., D.-K. Li 17556 (SHM, SYS); Yi-xing Co., D.-K. Li 250 (SHM, SYS). JIANGXI: Jing-gang Shan (Mt.), D.-K. Li 16650 (SHM, SYS); Lu Shan (Mt.), D.-K. Li 17329 (SHM, SYS). JILIN: Changbai Shan (Mt.), C. Gao 1686 (IFSBH, SYS). LIAONING: Sheng-yang City, C. Gao 7939 (IFSBH, SYS). SHAANXI: Qing-ling (Mt.), Z.-P. Wei 5930 (PE, SYS); Tai-bai Shan (Mt.), Z.-P. Wei 5936 (HKAS, NICH). SHANGDONG: Kun-yu Shan (Mt.), C. Gao & E.-Z. Bai 34277 (IFSBH, MO, SYS); Lao-shan (Mt.), C. Gao & E.-Z. Bai 34387 (IFSBH, SYS); Qing-dao City, Z.-G. Tong 22 (PE, SYS). SICHUAN: Chong-qing City, T. Cao 41402b (MO); Li Co., Redfearn et al. 34926 (MO); Luding Co., J.-X. Luo & M.-Z. Wang 1306b (PE, SYS); Mao-wen Co., Allen 7364 (MO); Markham Co., Allen 6943 (MO); Omei Shan (Mt.), D.-K. Li 15280 (SHM, SYS); Ruo-er-gai Co., S. He 30740e (MO); Tian-quan Co., J.-X. Luo 1042 (PE, SYS); Ya-an Co., C. Gao et al. 17117 (IFSBH, SYS). TAIWAN: Chia-yi Co., M.-Z. Lai 8269 (H, MO); Hua-liang Co., Koponen 18297 (H); Ilan Co., M.-Z. Lai 85-8 (H); Tai-tung Co., M.-Z. Lai 9599 (H, MO); Tai-zhong Co., Koponen 17858 (H). XIZANG: Cuo-na Co., S.-K. Chen 5131 (HKAS, SYS); Mo-tuo Co., S.-K. Chen 4774 (H). YUNNAN: Yi-liang Co., X.-J. Li 4502 (HKAS, SYS). ZHEJIANG: De-qing Co., P.-C. Wu 1285 (MO); Ling-an Co., D.-K. Li 3488 (SHM, SYS), P.-C. Wu 1088a (MO); Pu-tuo Shan (Mt.), D.-K. Li 5649 (SHM, SYS); Shang-si Co., D.-K. Li 3954 (SHM, SYS); Wen-zhou City, D.-K. Li & C.-H Gao 8073 (SHM, SYS).

Habitat: mostly on rocks, rarely on tree trunks or on soil; Distribution: China, Korea, Japan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, the Philippines, New Guinea, Africa, Europe, and Central and North America.

Illustrations: Z.-H. Li 1985 (Fig. 24, a–l, as Fissidens cristatus).