Reinstatement of species rank for (Bryophyta, Grimmiaceae) based on molecular and morphological data.

The genus Hedw. has been considered taxonomically difficult because of its great morphological variability, and its treatments by different specialists have led to incongruent results. One of the debates in the genus is the species status of Kern, an Asian-European disjunct moss species that has been considered identical to Bruch & Schimp. or Tomm ex Bruch & Schimp. It has also been regarded as the muticous-leaved male plants of . Based on a detailed analysis of the type and many non-type specimens combining the molecular and morphological data, the reinstatement of species rank for is proposed. The diagnostic characteristics of and its distinction from some closely related species, with which it may be confused, are discussed. C. Gao & T. Cao is considered a synonym of based on molecular and morphological data.