Fissidens maceratus Mitt., Trans. & Proc. Roy. Soc. Victoria 19: 91. 1882. Fissidens splachnobryoides Broth. in Schum. & Lauterb., Fl. Deutsch. Schutzgeb. Südsee: 81: 1900. Fissidens splachnobryoides fo. subbrachyneuron (Thér. & P. de la Varde) Herz., J. Hattori Bot. Lab. 14: 55. 1955. Fissidens subbrachyneuron Thér. & P. de la Varde, Rev. Gén. Bot. 29: 292. 1917.

Plants very small. Leafy stems simple, 2.4–3.7 mm long, 1.8–2.0 mm wide; axillary hyaline nodules not differentiated; central strand lacking. Leaves in 4–7 pairs, upper leaves oblong-lanceolate, 1.2–2.0 mm × 0.3–0.4 mm wide, acute at apex; base of dorsal laminae wedge-shaped; vaginant laminae 1/2 –3/5 the leaf length, equal; costa thin, ending far below the leaf apex; margins entire; leaves bordered all around; limbidia on apical and dorsal laminae, consisting of 2–3 rows of cells, becoming indistinct toward the base of dorsal laminae; limbidia on vaginant laminae stronger, consisting of 2–5 rows of cells, 1–3 cells thick in cross section; cells of apical and dorsal laminae rhombic to elliptic-ovate, 40–50 µm long, thin-walled; cells of upper part of dorsal and vaginant laminae similar to those of apical laminae, but more elongate toward the base, up to 94 µm long. Sporophytes not seen.

Type. Nigeria: Vogel s.n.

Chinese specimens examined: GUANGDONG: Gao-yao Co., H. Wu B90b (IBSC, SYS); Guang-zhou City, P.-J. Lin 3421 (IBSC, SYS). GUANGXI: Gui-lin City, T. Cao 21884 (IFSBH, SYS). HAINAN: Hai-kou City, Redfearn 35691 (MO). TAIWAN: Botel Tabago, Schwabe s.n. (JE); Tai-bei Co., M.-J. Lai 5961 (H).

Habitat: on rocks or soil; Distribution: China, Japan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Vietnam, Indonesia, the Philippines, New Guinea, Australia, Africa, and Americas.

Illustrations: Z.-H. Li 1985 (fig. 2, a–j, as Fissidens splachnobryoides).