Plants reddish to black. Leaves erect-spreading, straight or sometimes secund, lanceolate, widest proximally, apex symmetric; costa absent; leaf margins entire; basal laminal cells rectangular to long-rectangular, marginal cells quadrate, walls little pitted; medial laminal cells rounded-quadrate to ovate, 1-stratose entirely or sometimes 2-stratose in patches distally, lumens rounded; laminal papillae rare, low. Sexual condition cladautoicous; perichaetial leaves differentiated, convolute-sheathing. Spores 12-20(-30) µm.

Acidic rock faces, occasionally thin soil; moderate elevations; B.C.; South America (Argentina, Ecuador); nw Europe; Asia (e China); Atlantic Islands (Kerguelen Island); Pacific Islands (including New Zealand); Australia.