Plants: 0.5–1.2 cm. Stems: erect. Stem: leaves flexuose to ± contorted-flexuose, loosely erect when dry, lanceolate, 1.7–3.7 mm; base ovate; margins plane or slightly reflexed; apex obtuse; basal laminal cells rounded to elliptic; distal cells 7–11 µm, smooth or slightly papillose, papillae low, simple. : Specialized asexual reproduction absent. Sexual: condition autoicous; perichaetial leaves not differentiated from stem leaves. Seta: 5–5.5 mm. Capsule: cylindric and contracted at mouth when mature, fusiform to fusiform-cylindric when old and dry, 1.7–3.2 mm, strongly 8-ribbed 1/2–2/3 length, mouth small, distinctly smaller than mid capsule; stomata in neck and basal capsule; peristome single; exostome teeth split to 16, erect, flexuose-incurved, obscurely and densely papillose; endostome segments absent. Calyptra: conic, very hairy. Spores: 21–24 µm.
Twigs and trunks of conifer and deciduous trees, dense coastal forests. low elevations. B.C., Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.), Que., Alaska, Europe, Asia.