Leskea adnata Michaux, Fl. Bor.-Amer. 2: 310. 1803

Plants small, green to golden yellow, glossy. Stems 2-3 cm, branches ascending. Leaves erect to erect-spreading, sometimes homomallous, oblong-lanceolate, tapering gradually to apex, 1-1.5 mm; margins reflexed; apex gradually acuminate; alar cells enlarged, inflated, yellow, in 1 row, supra-alar cells several in 2 rows, quadrate to short-rectangular; laminal cells long-rhomboidal. Specialized asexual reproduction rare, by axillary propagula, 1-seriate, rough, branched or unbranched. Seta 0.4-0.8 cm. Capsule erect, 1 mm.

Capsules mature fall. Logs, bark of tree bases, rock, swamps; low to moderate elevations; Ala., Calif., Ga., La., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Pa., S.C., Tenn., Va., W. Va.; Mexico; Central America; South America.

Sematophyllum adnatum resembles Pylaisia (Hypnaceae) in habit, but is distinguished by its strongly differentiated, elongate (not isodiametric) alar cells. The species is introduced in California.