Plants: in dense to ± loose mats. Stems: erect-ascending or creeping; pseudoparaphyllia foliose or filamentous. Stem: leaves crowded, homomallous when dry, gradually narrowed to apex, slightly concave; alar cells usually many, region reaching from margin to costa at insertion or nearly so; laminal cells 5–9:1; basal cells shorter, broader. : Specialized asexual reproduction by papillose rhizoidal gemmae on abaxial costa surface. Perichaetia: with inner leaves ± suddenly narrowed to apex, not plicate, margins irregularly denticulate distally, apex acuminate, laminal cells smooth. Seta: orange-yellow or at base reddish, 0.8–1.4 cm. Capsule: with annulus separating, 1- or 2-seriate; operculum conic to short-rostrate; exostome teeth lanceolate, brownish yellow, external surface reticulate or reticulate-striate basally or with portions cross striolate; endostome cilia to 1/2 segment length. Spores: finely papillose.
Damp cliffs, limestone, swamps on logs, stumps, humus, bark at base of trees; low to high elevations. Greenland, Alta., B.C., Man., Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.), N.W.T., N.S., Nunavut, Ont., Que., Sask., Yukon, Alaska, Ariz., Ark., Calif., Colo., Idaho, Ind., Iowa, Kans., Mich., Minn., Mo., Mont., Nebr., Nev., N.Mex., N.Y., N.Dak., Ohio, Pa., S.Dak., Tex., Utah, Va., Wash., W.Va., Wis., Mexico (Baja California, Puebla), Central America (Guatemala), n, c Europe, Asia (Kashmir), Atlantic Islands (Iceland). Discussion.