Brachythecium auriculatum A. Jaeger was synonymized with Palamocladium leskeoides by Hoffman (1998). The present study shows their independence. Brachythecium complanatum Broth. is reported from Japan for the first time; this species was confused before with the superficially similar B. garovaglioides (=B. wichurae). Descriptions and illustrations of both species are provided.