Hypnum ciliare Bridel, Muscol. Recent., suppl. 2: 155. 1812; Fabronia ciliaris var. polycarpa (Hooker) W. R. Buck; F. ciliaris var. wrightii (Sullivant) W. R. Buck; F. ravenelii Sullivant; F. wrightii Sullivant

Leaves 0.4-0.9 mm; margins dentate or sometimes entire, not ciliate, teeth of 1 cell; apex acute or acuminate; medial laminal cells 30-45 × 11-12 µm.

Capsules mature summer. Bark of trees, rock; low to high elevations; Ariz., Ark., Calif., Colo., Ga., Ind., Kans., Ky., La., Mich., Minn., Mo., N.J., N.Mex., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Oreg., Pa., S.C., S.Dak., Tenn., Tex., Va., Wis.; Mexico; West Indies; Central America (Guatemala); South America; Europe; e Asia (Japan); Pacific Islands (Hawaii, New Zealand); Australia.

This treatment of Fabronia ciliaris generally follows that of W. R. Buck (1994b). Although the varieties recognized by Buck are not recognized here, his varietal keys and associated discussions are very useful. That work underlines the high degree of morphological variability within this species. Although many species and varieties have been described within the concept of F. ciliaris, examination of the variation among and within populations, especially with respect to the degree of leaf margin dentition, does not support the acceptance of most of these taxa.