Stems sparsely radiculose; rounded-pentagonal in section. Leaf with costal abaxial cells elongate. Sporophytes 1(--2) per perichaetium. Seta reddish brown in color, ca. 1.4 mm, twisted clockwise below, counterclockwise above. Capsule with reddish brown theca, peristome teeth of 7 articulations held together by a hyaline membrane. Calyptra ca. 3.0 mm.

Sporophytes mature in spring and summer (May, June, July). Limestone, calcareous shale, siliceous and conglomeritic rock, roadbank, in wet areas; 5--1200 m elev.; Ariz. (Haring 1961), B.C.; Calif., Mont., Oreg., Wash., Utah.

Often locally abundant, this distinctive species is sometimes reddish orange in exposed places. The morphology and ecology of this species are discussed at length by S. Flowers (1973), W. B. Schofield (1966), and A. J. Grout (1939). There is great variation in the thickness and color of the laminal cell walls, possibly correlated with degree of exposure. It has been found in fruit in British Columbia and two stations in California.