Stems consisting of nearly uniform, thin-walled cells. Leaves soft and fleshy when moist, somewhat shrunken when dry, 2--3 mm long; distal median cells 25--65 X 45 µm, thin-walled except for the tiny corner thickenings, marginal cells quadrate, basal cells rectangular. Brood bodies light-green, stalked, triangular-discoid, up to 300 µm across, with growing points at either side. Antheridia mingled with hyaline, filiform paraphyses. Seta wrinkled-striate, often twisted when dry; Capsule brown or red-brown, the urn 1--1.2, rarely 2 mm long; exothecial cells irregularly hexagonal with thick brown walls, broader than long in 3-8 rows at the mouth, the cells of the neck longer and wider with pale, thin walls. Spores 30--38 µm, papillae small, blunt, club-shaped.

In protected niches on moist soil or humus, most commonly in crevices of siliceous rocks; B. C., Nfld., Yukon; Alaska, Wash.; Greenland; n Europe, e Asia, South America, Tierra del Fuego, Falkland Islands.

Version History for Oedipodiaceae: Version 2: April, 2000 -- illustrations added Version 1: July, 1999