Desmatodon muralis (Hedw.) Jur., Laubm.-Fl. Oesterr.-Ung. 134. 1882. Bryum murale (Hedw.) With., Syst. Arr. Brit. Pl. (ed. 4), 3: 794. 1801.

Plants small, 5–15 mm high, yellowish green above, reddish brown below, in loose tufts. Stems erect, simple, rarely irregularly branched, radiculose below. Leaves contorted-curved or somewhat crisped when dry, spreading or slightly reflexed when moist, oblong-ligulate to oblong-elliptic, rounded-obtuse at apex, weakly sheathing at base; margins recurved or weakly revolute nearly throughout, entire or crenulate by projecting papillae, borders sometimes differentiated as short, thick-walled, yellowish cells; costa stout, excurrent, ending in a rather long, smooth, hyaline or rarely yellowish brown awn; upper leaf cells subquadrate to rounded hexagonal, moderately thick-walled, each cell covered by several C-shaped papillae; basal cells sharply differentiated, rectangular, hyaline, smooth. Autoicous. Setae 10–15(–20) mm long; capsules erect or slightly curved, cylindrical; peristome teeth filiform, twistsed, densely papillose, with low basal membrane.

Type. Europe.

Chinese specimens examined: FUJIAN: Wuyi Shan (Mt.), P.-C. Chen 239 (PE). GANSU: Qi-lian Shan (Mt.), Z.-D. Zhu 761 (PE); Yu-zhong, L.-X. Zheng 19 (PE). HEBEI: Wei Co., Y.-C. Zhao 104, 133 (PE). HENAN: Xin-yang Co., H.-J. Yu 912 (PE). HUBEI: Sheng-nong-jia (Mt.), K.-Y. Guan 802739 (HKAS). HUNAN: Chang-sha City, Yue-lu Shan (Mt.), F.-Z. Lv 16 (PE). JIANGSU: Bao-hua (Mt.), P.-C. Chen 5501 (PE); Jia-xing Co., S.-L. Bi 1337 (PE); Nan-jing City, Z.-L. Wan 5901 (PE). JIANGXI: Lu Shan (Mt.), M. Zang 5 (PE). JILIN: Jiao-he Co., C. Gao 1977 (IFSBH). LIAONING: Shen-yang City, C. Gao 1977 (IFSBH). NEI MONGOL: He-lan Shan (Mt.), Z.-G. Tong 1182 (PE). QINGHAI: Cheng-duo Co., B.-C. Tan 95-208 (FH, MO). SHAANXI: Hu Co., M. Wang 464 (HKAS); Qing-ling (Mt.), Q. Huang B17 (PE); Zhou-zhi Co., M.-X. Zhang 442 (HKAS, WUG). SHANGHAI: Guang-zhao Shan (Mt.), S.-M. Xu 113 (PE); Jin Shan (Mt.), L.-H.Sun 160 (HKAS). SICHUAN: Ba Co., P.-C. Chen 550 (PE); Chong-qing City, G.-N. Liu 15 (PE); Li Co., X.-J. Li 1907 (HKAS). XINJIANG: A-ke-su Co., J.-L. Wu 3984 (HKAS). XIZANG: Long-zi Co., Zhun-ba, M. Zang 1051 (HKAS); Mo-tuo Co., Y.-G. Su 3774 (HKAS). YUNNAN: De-qin Co., X.-J. Li 811743 (HKAS). ZHEJIANG: Shen-si Co., D.-K. Li 2078 (HKAS, SHM).

Habitat: on calcareous rocks, forest ground, or thin soil over rocks; Distribution: China, Japan, Russia, Europe, Africa, and North America.

Illustrations: C. Gao (ed.) 1996 (Pl. 83, figs. 10–12).