Plants small, in slender, flat mats, light green or brown. Stems irregularly branched; paraphyllia absent; rhizoids often on adaxial costa at base. Stem and branch leaves similar. Stem leaves strongly appressed, imbricate when dry, erect-spreading when moist, ovate, not plicate; margins plane, entire or somewhat serrulate toward apex; apex abruptly acuminate, hair-point absent; costa variable, 2-fid from base or just beyond short base, weak but distinct, 1/3–1/2 leaf length, straight, not obscure distally; alar cells quadrate to oblate-rectangular; proximal laminal cells 1–2:1, walls not or obscurely pitted; medial cells short-rhomboidal, papillae many, exceedingly fine, walls firm. Specialized asexual reproduction absent. Sexual condition probably autoicous; perichaetial leaves green, erect, margins often serrulate at apex, apex subulate. Sporophytes unknown.

Distribution

w North America, e Mexico, South America, Eurasia, s Africa.

Discussion

Species 7 (1 in the flora).

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Leptopterigynandrum austroalpinum