Hypnum oreganum Sullivant, Mem. Amer. Acad. Arts, n. s. 4: 172. 1849

Plants large, plumose, green, yellow-green, or brownish. Stems 10-25(-45) cm, sympodial branching rare, branches 6-10 (-12) mm, almost always simple. Stem leaves 1.2-2.2 × 0.8-1.2 (-1.6) mm; laminal cells 35-80 × 3-5(-6) µm. Branch leaves distinctly plicate, 1-2 × (0.6-)0.7-0.9(-1.2) mm. Seta 1.5-2 cm. Spores 12-16 µm.

Litter, soil rich in humus, rotten logs, forests, mesic, diffusely lighted places; low to moderate elevations (0-1300 m); B.C.; Alaska, Calif., Idaho, Mont., Oreg., Wash.

Kindbergia oregana differs from the most common morphotype of K. praelonga in its more robust stature and simple branches. In addition, the branch leaves of K. oregana are usually distinctly plicate and the laminal cells are narrower and more thin-walled.