Thyridium flavum (C. Müll.) Fleischer, Musci Fl. Buitenzorg 1: 232. 1904.

Plants small, slender, less than 2 cm high, pale yellowish green, in sparse straggling colonies. Stems repent, with short branches; rhizoids glossy brownish red, sometimes conspicuous. Leaves involute-falcate when dry, spreading when wet, oblong above slightly broader base, characteristically abruptly pointed, to 3 mm long, axillary hairs inconspicuous; cells of upper laminae obscure, isodiametric, smooth or unipapillose abaxially with small, low papillae, bulging-papillose adaxially; margins conspicuously bordered, except toward leaf tip, with narrow hyaline cells, border broadest at shoulders, irregularly sharply denticulate above shoulders; cancellinae rounded distally. Gemmae common, adaxial on leaf tips. Sporophytes not seen.

Type. Indonesia: Java.

Chinese specimens examined: HAINAN: Ling-shui Co., P.-J. Lin & Z.-H. Li 882 (IBSC, LAF, SYS). YUNNAN: Jing-hong Co., Magill et al. 7840 (LAF, MO).

Habitat: rare; on tree trunks and bases in forests at medium elevations; 550–720 m; Distribution: widespread from tropical Africa eastward through Malaysia and Australia.

This little moss is readily recognized by its oblong, abruptly pointed leaves and distally rounded cancellinae. See comments under Mitthyridium fasciculatum.

Illustrations: Reese & P.-J. Lin 1991 (figs. 155–159).