Tortula sinensis (C. Müll.) Broth. in Levier, Nuovo Giorn. Bot. Ital., n. ser. 13: 279. 1906. Syntrichia alpina (Bruch & Schimp.) Jur., Laubm.-Fl. Oesterr.-Ung. 139. 1882, hom. illeg. Tortula alpina (Bruch & Schimp.) Bruch in Breut., Musci Frond. Exsic. 163. 1843, hom. illeg. Barbula alpina Bruch & Schimp., Bryol. Eur. 2: 101. 163 (fasc. 13–15 Monogr. 39. 24). 1842. Syntrichia alpina var. inermis (Milde.) Jur., Laubm.-Fl. Oesterr.-Ung. 140. 1882. Tortula brachypila (C. Müll.) Broth. in Levier, Nuovo Giorn. Bot. Ital., n. ser. 13: 278. 1906. Barbula brachypila C. Müll., Nuovo Giorn. Bot. Ital., n. ser. 5: 181. 1898. Type. China: Shaanxi (Schen-si), In-kia-po, P. J. Giraldi 1804. Tortula erythrotricha (C. Müll.) Broth. in Levier, Nuovo Giorn. Bot. Ital., n. ser. 13: 278. 1906. Barbula erythrotricha C. Müll., Nuovo Giorn. Bot. Ital., n. ser. 5: 181. 1898. Type. China: Shaanxi (Schen-si), In-kio-po, P. J. Giraldi 853. Tortula satoi Sak., Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 62: 105. 1949. Type. China: Shanxi, Fan-shi Co., Yan-tou, Sato 39 (holotype TNS). Tortula solomensis (Broth.) Zand., Bull. Buffalo Soc. Nat. Sci. 32: 226. 1993. Desmatodon solomensis Broth., Rev. Bryol., n. sér. 2: 2. 1929. Type. China: Gansu (Kansu), Potanin s.n.

Plants medium-sized, 2–3 cm high, dark green to reddish brown, in loose tufts. Stems erect, simple or rarely irregularly branched, radiculose at base; central strand usually present. Leaves appressed or contorted when dry, spreading or sometimes reflexed when moist, oblong-ligulate to spathulate, rounded-obtuse to broadly acute at apex, upper lamina broadly channeled or keeled, weakly sheathing at base; margins often recurved, crenulate by projecting papillae; costa rather stout, often reddish brown, excurrent, ending in a rather long, reddish brown awn, smooth; upper leaf cells rounded-hexagonal, each cell densely covered with several C-shaped papillae; basal cells distinctly differentiated, rectangular, thin-walled, hyaline, smooth. Autoicous. Setae elongate, straight, 1.0–1.5 cm long, yellowish brown; capsules erect, cylindrical; peristome teeth linear, twisted, papillose; basal membrane high.

Type. China: Shaanxi (Schen-si), In-kia-puo, June 1894, P. J. Giraldi s.n.

Chinese specimens examined: FUJIAN: Wuyi Shan (Mt.), P.-C. Chen 22 (PE). HEBEI: Wei Co., Y.-C. Zhao 6 (PE); Xi-ling Shan (Mt.), Q.-W. Wang 1600 (PE). HUBEI: Sheng-nong-jia, P.-C. Wu 152 (MO). JIANGSU: Ju-rong Co., D.-Z. Chen 18808 (HKAS). JIANGXI: Guang-feng Co., M. Zang 9 (HKAS). NEI MONGOL: Da-qing Shan, Z.-G. Tong 796 (PE); He-lan Shan, Z.-G. Tong 1183 (PE). QINGHAI: Xi-ning Co., Y.-L. Geng 5560 (PE); Xing-hai Co., J.-S. Liu 18525 (HKAS). SHAANXI: Hua Shan (Mt.), M.-X. Zhang 363 (HKAS); Qing-ling Shan (Mt.), P. J. Giraldi 1279 (H). SICHUAN: A-ba Co., S. He 30954 (MO); Dan-ba Co., Z.-T. Guan 2021 (PE); De-ge Co., J.-L. Yang 2044 (HKAS); De-rong Co., X.-J. Li 811511 (HKAS); Ma-er-kang Co., X.-J. Li 1629 (HKAS); Nan-ping Co., S.-Y. Zeng 161 (HKAS); Omei Shan (Mt.), P.-C. Chen 5621 (PE); Ruo-er-gai Co., S. He 30603d (MO); Song-pan Co., S. He 30546 (MO); Xiang-cheng Co., X.-J. Li 3084 (HKAS); Xiao-jin Co., J.-Y. Hu 20 (PE); Ya-jiang Co., S. He 31970 (MO). XINJIANG: Be-ge-da Shan (Mt.), J.-C. Zhao 2558 (HKAS). XIZANG: Ban-ge Co., K.-Y. Lang 1306 (HKAS); Bo-mi Co., Y.-G. Su 1025 (HKAS); Lang Co., M. Zang 1839 (HKAS); Long-zi Co., M. Zang 1190 (HKAS); Ya-dong Co., M. Zang 736 (HKAS). YUNNAN: Kun-ming City, L.-S. Xu 5 (PE); Zhong-dian Co., H.-F. Xie 1987 (PE).

Habitat: on soil, grassland, tree trunks, rotten wood, and on rocks; Distribution: China, central and northern Asia, Europe, North America, and northern Africa.

Illustrations: C. Gao (ed.) 1996 (Pl. 84, figs. 11, 12, as Tortula sinensis).