Stems: appressed to substrate, branches many. Stem: leaves symmetric, 0.6–1.2 mm; apex slender, longer than main portion of lamina; costa flattening and filling acumen; apical laminal cells somewhat longer than medial cells. Branch: leaves ovate to ovate-lanceolate, 0.4–0.8 mm; apex acute to subulate. Stoloniferous leaves scalelike, distant, ovate or orbicular. Capsule: 2–3 mm; annulus of 2 rows of cells, deciduous in fragments; endostome basal membrane about 1/4 length of exostome teeth. Phenology: Capsules mature Jul–Sep.
Tree bark, calcareous rock. low to high elevations (0-3500 m). Greenland, Alta., B.C., Man., N.B., Nfld. and Labr., N.S., Ont., Que., Ariz., Colo., Idaho, Maine, Mich., Minn., Mont., N.Mex., N.Y., N.C., Pa., R.I., S.Dak., Utah, Vt., Wis., Europe, Asia, Atlantic Islands (Iceland). Discussion.