Plants: small, in compact, yellow-brown or green tufts. Stems: (0.5–)1–2(–4) cm. Leaves: erect spreading or falcate-secund, lanceolate, subulate, 2–3 mm; costa 30–55 µm wide at base, long-excurrent, rough near tip; distal laminal cells mostly quadrate (2–5:1), incrassate; basal laminal cells elongate, alar cells differentiated. Perichaetial: leaves much larger than stem leaves. Seta: short, 1–3 mm. Capsule: immersed in perichaetial leaves, straight; peristome teeth spreading outward when dry. Spores: 16–27 µm. Phenology: Capsules mature summer.
Siliceous rock. high elevations. Greenland, Yukon, Europe.
A rare high-arctic species, Arctoa anderssonii was once considered a variety of A. fulvella, but is distinguished by a short seta, large perichaetial leaves, and straight, immersed capsule. It has a costa that is more shortly excurrent than that of A. fulvella but longer than that of A. hyperborea.