Plants: 0.5–2 cm. Stem: leaves rigid, erect-appressed when dry, oblong-lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, 2.2–4 mm; margins revolute nearly to apex, often irregularly notched near apex; apex slender-acute, cuspidate; basal laminal cells linear-elongate, walls thick, nodose; distal cells 7–14 µm, 1-stratose, papillae 1 or 2 per cell, conic, small. : Specialized asexual reproduction absent. Sexual: condition gonioautoicous. Seta: 1 mm. Capsule: 1/2 emergent when dry, cylindric, 1.5–2 mm, distinctly 8-ribbed entire length when mature; stomata superficial; peristome double; prostome absent; exostome teeth 16, often connate at base, recurved when dry, truncate, densely papillose; endostome segments 16, well developed, usually present when capsule is old and dry, thick, stout, of 2 rows of cells, almost as wide as exostome teeth, yellowish brown, densely papillose. Calyptra: conic-oblong, smooth, hairy, hairs papillose. Spores: 17–27 µm.

Trunks and branches of live and dead Quercus montana. moderate to high elevations (1500-2000 m). N.C., Va.

Orthotrichum keeverae is the only species in southeastern North America with 16 recurved exostome teeth, a stout endostome, and cuspidate leaf apices. The exostome teeth are truncate and partially connate at the base, forming a basal membrane.