Flexitrichaceae. Genus Flexitrichum
1. Stems 0. 5-4(-6) cm long; leaves (0. 8-)1-3(-4) mm long, from an ovate sheathing base sharply contracted to the subula; juxtacostal basal cells with eporose longitudinal walls —
1. F. flexicaule
This species is common in northern and mountain areas, rather common in most regions of Siberia, but very rare in lowlands in Europe. It grows usually on bare mineral ground.
— Stems 3-7 cm long; leaves (2-)4-7 mm long, from an oblong base gradually tapering to a long, slender subula; basal laminal cells with weakly to strongly nodulose longitudinal walls —
2. F. gracile
Separation of F. gracile from F. flexicaule is recent, thus some literature records of F. flexicaule refer to both species. This species occurs of calcareous or otherwise basic rock outcrops in mountain areas and in moist tundra. In southern mountains it is more frequent than D. flexicaule, but it is absent or very rare in lowlans. Additional revision is required for a better understanding of their differences in ecology and distribution. Sporophytes in F. gracile are much more rare than in D. flexicaule.