Leskea pellucinervis Mitten, J. Proc. Linn. Soc., Bot., suppl., 2. 1859; Claopodium subpiliferum (Lindberg & Arnell) Brotherus

Plants to 4.5 cm, in loose mats, dark green to yellowish. Stems irregularly branched, densely papillose; paraphyllia few, scalelike. Leaves ovate- lanceolate, 1-1.5 mm; margins entire, limbidium absent; apex tapering, hair-point present; costa to 3/4 leaf length, abaxial surface papillose; distal medial laminal cells elliptic to rhomboidal, 15-25 µm, densely multipapillose. Seta 1.2-1.5 cm, smooth. Capsule inclined to horizontal, oblong, 1-2 mm; operculum conic, short-rostrate. Spores 15-21 µm, lightly papillose.

Pockets or crevices of shaded cliffs, limestone boulders, humus at cliff bases; low to high elevations; B.C., Yukon; Alaska, N.Mex.; Mexico (Distrito Federal, Durango); Asia (China, India, Japan, Korea, Pakistan).

Acollection of Claopodium pellucinerve reported from Arizona (A. B. Johnsen 1969, 1978) was determined to be Anomodon rostratus. In southwestern United States, C. pellucinerve can be confused with small, depauperate material of A. rostratus. C. pellucinerve is distinguished from A. rostratus by its inclined capsules, plane leaf margins, and simple papillae as opposed to erect capsules, revolute leaf margins, and slightly branched papillae.