Protonema persistent as a thick green adherent felt. Leaves: with strongly bordered and serrulate margins, distal laminal cell strongly bulging, papillae centered over lumens, mucro strongly denticulate. Capsule: exothecial cells rectangular, 4–5:1, mostly ca. 13–18 µm wide. Spores: 18–20 µm, weakly ornamented. Phenology: Capsules mature Apr.
Usually under translucent rocks in exposed situations. moderate elevations. Kans.
Of conservation concern. Aschisma kansanum is endemic to the United States, being restricted to High Plains grassland (Gary L. Smith 1990) in three counties in west-central Kansas. Its persistent protonema and habitat are distinctive. This tiny, very rare species is threatened by over-collecting and grazing.