Stem rounded-pentagonal in section. Leaves flattened, lanceolate, distal margins plane, entire or weakly toothed, not bordered; apex acute, plane or keeled; basal cells differentiated across leaf base as a U or V, commonly running up margins, not distinctly enlarged submarginally; distal laminal cells pluripapillose with low papillae; mucro conic, of 3--6 cells. Sexual condition dioicous. Peristome teeth bluntly lanceolate.

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora). Widely distributed in temperate and high-elevation tropical areas of the world, ranging into the Arctic.

Lower Taxa

• Trichostomum tenuirostre var. gemmiparum (Schimper) R. H. Zander
• Trichostomum tenuirostre var. tenuirostre

Related Synonym(s):

• Didymodon cylindricus var. gemmiparus Schimper = Trichostomum tenuirostre var. gemmiparum (Schimper) R. H. Zander