Orthotrichum splachnoides Froelich ex Bridel, Muscol. Recent., suppl. 2: 4. 1812; Anacamptodon splachnoides var. americanus Hampe; Campylodontium hypnoides Schwagrichen

Plants dull to shiny. Stems creeping, branches ± ascending, straight to slightly curved at apices; somewhat radiculose. Stem and branch leaves erect to slightly spreading when dry, spreading to subsecund when moist; costa to 1/2-4/5 leaf length; laminal cells smooth; basal cells bulging; medial and distal cells 30-56 × 8-11 µm. Perigonia with leaves ovate, apex short-acute, ecostate. Perichaetia with leaves oblong-lanceolate, margins serrulate distally, apex long-acuminate, costa faint, 1/2-3/4 leaf length, laminal cells elongate. Seta yellow, 0.7-1.4 cm, straight. Capsule yellow to brown, 0.8-2 mm, strongly constricted below mouth when dry, hypophysis present; operculum conic, obliquely rostrate; exostome yellow to light brown, teeth paired, strongly recurved when dry, triangular-lanceolate, attenuate, thin; endostome light orange to golden, segments 8 or 16, filiform, elongate, 1/3-1 time exostome length. Calyptra 1.7-2 mm, naked. Spores spheric, finely papillose.

Capsules mature (Jan-)Apr-Oct(-Dec). Bark of trees, wet, sheltered niches, crotches, fissures, knotholes on logs, stumps, sometimes rotten, wet rock; low to high elevations (0-1700 m); N.S., Ont., Que.; Ark., Conn., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Ky., La., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Miss., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Pa., Tenn., Tex., Vt., Va., W. Va., Wis.; Europe.

The habit of Anacamptodon splachnoides, combined with frequent sporophyte production with distinctive, strongly reflexed exostome teeth, makes it one of the more easily recognized mosses. The most common substrates for A. splachnoides are knotholes or wet crevices of Fagus grandifolia and species of Acer and Betula.