Plants delicate, light green. Leaves linear to lanceolate-linear, gradually narrowed, broadly acute, costae ending just below apex; margins entire, leaf cells (1--)3:1; perichaetial leaves longer, but otherwise similar to vegetative leaves, not much differentiated. Seta 1.8--2.2 mm, straight to flexuose, slender. Capsule obovate to oblong, longer than wide, broadest at mouth when old; peristome of 16, long, well-developed teeth; columella immersed. Spores 10-12 µm.

Calcareous substrates; N.B., Nfld., Que.; Europe, Asia

This species is known from only a few localities in Atlantic Canada. It is most closely related to S. pusilla, from which it differs by shorter, wider leaves. Seligeria brevifolia is additionally characterized by a light green color and short, linear to narrowly lanceolate-linear leaves with a broadly acute point. The leaf cells are pellucid and rectangular to quadrate. The setae are slightly flexuose when moist; the capsules are obovate and gradually narrowed to the seta. When old and dry the capsules are widest at the mouth. The peristome is reddish, smooth, recurved, and long, usually extending along the capsule about 1/4 way.