Plants 0.8--5.0 cm, robust. Stem leaves loosely erect, usually slightly contorted or curved, lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, 3.0--4.0 mm, acuminate to narrowly acute, margins revolute nearly to apex, entire; distal laminal cells 7--13 µm wide, 1-stratose, 1--3, conic or forked papillae; basal laminal cells elongate, with nodose or wavy walls. Sexual condition goniautoicous. Seta 1--3 mm. Capsule exserted to rarely emergent; urn cylindric to ovate-cylindric when mature, 1.5--2.4 mm, lightly ribbed ± 1/2 length of capsule; stomates superficial; peristome double; endostome segments 8, 2 rows of cells, coarsely papillose; exostome teeth 8, recurved, coarsely papillose. Calyptra conic-oblong, with finely papillose hairs. Spores 13--26 µm.

Coniferous and decidious trees, rocks; 10--2000 m; Greenland; Alta., B.C., Man., N.B., Nfld., N.W.T., N.S., Nun., P.E.I., Que., Sask. Yukon; Alaska, Calif., Colo., Idaho, Mich., Minn., Mont., Nev., N.H., N.Y., Oreg., Utah, Wash., Wyo.; Europe, n Africa; n Asia.

Orthotrichum speciosum is mainly western and Arctic in distribution. The ribbed capsule, large size, and more slender leaf apices distinguish it. Orthotrichum elegans has smooth capsules.