Fissidens brevinervis Broth., Sitzungsber. Kaiserl. Akad. Wiss. Math.-Naturwiss. Cl. 133: 559. 1924. Type. China: Sichuan (Setschwan), Handel-Mazzetti 5306 (holotype H-BR). Fissidens elegans auct. non Brid., Iwatsuki & Suzuki (1982: 391). Fissidens microcladus Thwait. & Mitt. in Mitt., J. Linn. Soc. Bot. 13: 324. 1873.

Plants yellowish green, growing in lax patches. Leafy stems usually simple, rarely branched, 1.5–4.0 mm long, 0.9–1.4 mm wide; axillary hyaline nodules not differentiated; central lacking. Leaves in 6–11 pairs, lowest leaves small, scale-like, widely arranged; upper leaves closely arranged, oblong-lanceolate to lanceolate, 0.77–1.10 mm × 0.20–0.26 mm, round to obtuse, rarely acute at apex; base of dorsal laminae wedge-shaped; margins serrulate; vaginant laminae 1/2 –2/3 the leaf length, unequal; costa usually lightly yellowish brown, ending below the apex, sometimes distally forked with a very short branch; cells of apical and dorsal laminae quadrate to hexagonal, 3.4–10.5 µm long, minutely pluripapillose, thin-walled; cells of vaginant laminae similar to those of apical and dorsal laminae; limbidia usually appearing only on lower one-half of vaginant laminae of upper leaves or lacking. Sporophytes unknown.

Type. Brazil: Gardner s.n.

Chinese specimens examined: GUANGDONG: Lofu Shan (Mt.), Magill et al. 8152 (MO). GUANGXI: Shang-si Co., Z.-H. Li 2206 (IBSC, SYS). SHANGDONG: Qing-dao City, Schwabe 8 (JE). YUNNAN: Jing-hong Co., Redfearn et al. 34055 (MO); Meng-hai Co., Redfearn et al. 34121 (MO).

Habitat: on rocks or tree bark; Distribution: China, Japan, Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos, the Philippines, Africa, and Americas.

Illustrations: Z.-H. Li 1985 (Fig. 11, a–g, as Fissidens microcladus).