Square Pleurochaete Moss

Plants rather robust, 3–6 cm high, greenish brown, in loose tufts. Stems erect, usually branched, with brood branches. Leaves densely arranged, contorted-curved when dry, squarrose when moist, ovate-lanceolate, sheathing at the base, gradually acuminate; margins undulate, slightly incurved, serrate in the upper half, entire in the lower half; costa stout, shortly excurrent; upper leaf cells irregularly rounded-hexagonal, densely papillose; basal cells enlarged, rectangular, thin-walled, hyaline, smooth, basal marginal cells slightly differentiated. Sporophytic characters the same as those of the genus.

Distribution: China, Himalayas, western Asia, Russia, Europe, North America, and northern Africa.

Habitat: on forest ground or soil near streams.