Abstract
The fiftteen species so far comprised in the genus Conostomum are reduced to seven. Conostomum aequinoctiale Schimp. ex C. Müll., C. lorentzii C. Müll., C. pentastichum (Brid.) Lindb., C. pusillum Hook. f. et Wils., and C. speirostichum C. Müll. are regarded as conspecific with C. tetragonum (Hedw.) Lindb. Conostomum giganteum Bartr. & Dix. is not identical with C. pentastichum but a good species. It was known so far only from the type locality in New Zealand but is more widespread and newly recorded from Australia and the Campbell Islands. Conostomum crassinervium P. Varde described and only known from Mt. Kenya is spirally foliate and does not show the 5 ranked areolation typical for the genus. Since it is sterile, its placement in Conostomum is dubious.