Plants: 4–8 cm, in loose mats, green to yellowish, often appearing brownish. Stems: ± pinnate, smooth; paraphyllia absent. Leaves: ovate, to 3 mm; margins serrate, limbidium present; apex long-acuminate, hair-point present; costa ending before apex, abaxial surface smooth; distal medial laminal cells hexagonal or subquadrate, 8–9 µm, 1-papillose. Seta: 1–2 cm, rough. Capsule: inclined to almost horizontal, oblong, 1.5–3 mm; operculum long-rostrate. Spores: 9–12 µm, smooth.
Rotten logs, tree bases, soil over rock. low to moderate elevations. Alta., B.C., Alaska, Calif., Idaho, Mont., Oreg., Wash., e Asia (Japan, Russian Far East). Discussion.