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1 Leaves oblanceolate, the apical portion toothed with 1-8 large, irregular teeth; leaves 6-15 mm long, 1.0-2.5 mm wide; stomates on lower leaf surface only (visible at 10×, or preferably 20-40×, magnification); spores 23-29 μm in diameter; [mainly of forest soils]
1 Leaves lanceolate (awl-shaped), margins not toothed, or minutely toothed in the apical portion only with 1-3 low teeth; leaves 3-9 mm long, 0.6-1.3 mm wide; stomates on both leaf surfaces (visible at 10×, or preferably 20-40×, magnification); spores 29-38 μm in diameter; [mainly of rock outcrops].
..2 Leaves spreading, (3-) 5-9 mm long, ca. 1 mm wide, usually sparsely toothed; stomates relatively few on the upper leaf surface (1-25 on each side of the midrib); [outcrops at low to medium elevations]
..2 Leaves ascending to spreading, 2-7.5 mm long, 0.6-0.8 (-1.0) mm wide, not toothed (though sometimes with minute, single cell bumps); stomates relatively many on the upper leaf surface (30-90 on each side of the midrib); [high to medium elevations in our area].
....3 Leaves dimorphic, those at the base longer and spreading wider from the shoot axis than those from the apical portion of the plant; gemma-bearing branches borne throughout the apical portion of mature shoots; lateral leaves of gemmae 0.5-1.1 mm wide
....3 Leaves relatively monomorphic; gemma-bearing branches, if present at all, borne in 1 (-2) pseudowhorl at the apex of seasonal growth; lateral leaves of gemmae 1.3-2.5 mm wide