Fissidens ripensis Mitt., Transactions of the Linnean Society of London 23: 55, 6, fig. 15 (Mitten 1860). — Lectotype (designated by Slavick 1992 as holotype): Niger Expedition; Barter 1425 (NY, mixed with e.g. F. porrectus Mitt.; isolectotypes: PC, BM).
Fissidens cryptarum Müll.Hal., Linnaea 39: 352 (Müller 1875). — Lectotype (designated by Bruggeman-Nannenga 1993, here refined with barcode): [Sudan], Central-Africa • im Lande der Bongo bei Kulongo der Höhle von Gubbihih; Schweinfurth 2234 MNHN[PC10106795]; isolectotypes: PC and H-BR as Schweinfurth s.n., syn. nov.
Fissidens cremersii Bizot & Onr., Revue bryologique et lichénologique 42: 846 (Bizot 1974). — Holotype: Madagascar • au nord de Maromandia; au bord d’un marigot permanent, sous forêt, sur un arbre; 50 m alt.; Cremers 2734; MNHN [PC0129997]; isotype: BR, syn. nov.
DIAGNOSIS. — Fissidens pellucidus var. ripensis differs from F. p. var. pellucidus by mucronate apices and taller plants with up to 55 leaf pairs. Leaves of the variety can be elimbate, but typically have weak limbidia on the basal parts of some or all or most vaginant laminae. Leaves of var. pellucidus are as a rule elimbate. Most collections of var. ripensis are from semiaquatic places, but it is not restricted to these.
OTHER EXAMINED MATERIAL (Specimens used in Fig. 2). — Madagascar • Atsinanana (Toamasina); Secondary forest, on rock; 17°42’1”S, 49°27’18”E; Brinda et Andramiarisoa 12757 (MO, private herbarium Bruggeman-Nannenga) • Tamatave, Forest Reserve atTampolo, 95 km N of Tamatave; on root in boggy area; 17°6’S, 49°24’E; Crosby 6700 (PC, private herbarium Bruggeman-Nannenga) • SW Madagascar, Isalo National park, ‘ Piscine Naturelle’ 5 km W of Ranohira; sandstone canyon with Pandanus near the streamlet; Orban 9455 / CR; EGR; type specimen of F. cremersii MNHN [PC0129997].