1. Primary stems elongate, creeping; secondary stems dendroid; pseudoparaphyllia sometimes present; leaf cells long-rhomboidal; capsules usually exserted; calyptrae small, cucullate
.......................... 3. Forsstroemia
1. Primary stems very short, erect or pendulous; secondary stems not dendroid; pseudoparaphyllia absent; leaf cells hexagonal or short-rhomboidal; capsules submerged; calyptrae large, mitrate......................................... 2
2. Leaf margins dentate above....................................................................................................... 4. Pilotrichopsis
2. Leaf margins not dentate...................................................................................................................................... 3
3. Stems pinnately branched; leaf costae ending at mid-leaf; leaf cells smooth; cells of inner perichaetial leaves smooth; capsules nearly spherical; spores ca. 75 µm in diameter, smooth.............. 6. Sphaerotheciella
3. Stems irregularly, rarely pinnately branched; leaf costae reaching beyond mid-leaf or reaching to leaf apex; leaf cells papillose; cells of inner perichaetial leaves papillose; capsules oblong-ovoid or cylindrical; spores less than 50 µm in diameter, finely papillose............................................................................................. 4
4. Secondary stems short, often sparsely branched; peristome double............................................ 1. Cryphaea
4. Secondary stems elongate, often densely branched; peristome single............................................................ 5
5. Leaf costae thick, spinose or prorate on the surfaces; upper leaf cells and marginal cells with a single papilla; capsules 1–3 in each perichaetium on upper secondary stems; peristome teeth long......................... 2. Cyptodontopsis
5. Leaf costae rather slender, often forked above, smooth; leaf cells finely papillose; capsules solitary in each perichaetium on branches; peristome teeth short...................................................................... 5. Schoenobryum