Plants tiny, olive-green. Leaves ovate-oblong to broadly ligulate, gradually narrowed, obtuse, costa ending before apex, margins entire; leaf cells (1--)2:1; perichaetial leaves sharply contracted to stout, short subula from clasping base, strongly differentiated. Seta 2--2.5 mm, twisted, curved when moist, ± straight when dry, slender. Capsule ovate-oblong to oblong, longer than broad, not widest at mouth; peristome of 16 well-developed teeth; columella immersed. Spores 9--11 µm.

Stones, cliff faces; N.B., Que., Yukon; Alaska; Europe; Asia.

This species occurs on stones in Arctic Alaska, then south along the western mountains into the Yukon, and is found on cliff faces from a few stations in eastern North America. Seligeria diversifolia is slender and stiff with differentiated perichaetial leaves, and a straight to slightly curved seta when moist while the similar S. campylopoda has curved-twisted leaves, no differentiated perichaetial leaves, and a markedly curved seta when moist.