Leucophanes albescens C. Müll., Bot. Zeitung (Berlin). 22: 347. 1864.

Plants small, 0.5–1.0 cm high, whitish or grayish to bluish green or yellowish green in dense tufts or cushions. Stems simple or branched, loosely foliate below, densely foliate above. Leaves up to 5.0 mm long, narrowly lanceolate to linear lanceolate from oblong-ovate sheathing base, upper parts keeled or channelled, acute to apiculate at the apex, flexuose when dry; margins distinctly bordered, with 4–6 rows of linear, hyaline cells throughout, serrulate to serrate above the middle of leaves, entire below; costae distinctly serrate on the dorsal side in the upper parts of leaves, costal leucocysts 3–4 layered near leaf base, chlorocysts in cross section quadrangular. Gemmae common at the leaf apex. Dioicous. Outer perichaetial leaves not differentiated from vegetative leaves. Setae slender, up to 9 mm long. Other sporophytic features the same as described under the genus.

Type. Indonesia. Moluccas, Gaudichaud 10.

Chinese specimens examined: HAINAN: Diaoluo Shan, P.-J. Lin 2761 (IBSC, as Leucophanes albescens). TAIWAN: Taitung Co., S.-H. Lin s.n. [Bryophytes of Taiwan Exsiccatae No. 79] (MO, as Leucophanes albescens).

Habitat: on bark of trees and tree ferns; Distribution: China, Japan, India, Thailand, Vietnam, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Papua New Guinea, the islands of the tropical Pacific, and Australia.

Illustrations: C. Gao (ed.) 1994 (Pl. 148, figs. 1–6, as Leucophanes albescens).