Plants to 5 cm. Stem leaves somewhat contorted and recurved when dry, wide-spreading to squarrose-recurved when moist, lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 1.4-2 mm; margins sharply serrate near apex; apex bluntly acute, apiculus absent; costa excurrent or ending obscurely in apex, abaxial surface covered by quadrate papillose cells distally; basal laminal cells elongate- to short-rectangular; distal cells 4-9 µm, papillae 2-4 per cell, walls very thick. Specialized asexual reproduction gemmae absent. Sexual condition dioicous. Sporophytes unknown.

Calcareous rock, alpine and subalpine regions; high elevations; B.C.; Central America (Guatemala).

Zygodon gracilis is distinguished from other species of the genus in North America by its squarrose-recurved leaves, absence of gemmae, bluntly acute leaf apices, and very thick-walled distal laminal cells.