Plants 1--4 cm. Stem leaves 1.5--4 mm, linear-lanceolate; margins toothed to notched distally, toothed or entire proximally, recurved; basal laminal cells thick-walled, yellowish; distal laminal cells 9--11 µm wide, lightly obscured by numerous tiny elliptic cuticular papillae, these often in longitudinal lines. Sexual condition dioicous. Perichaetial leaves subsheathing at base, elongate, narrow, long-pointed. Seta 1.5--2 mm. Capsule immersed to emergent, 1.2--1.6 mm. Operculum conic-apiculate. Spores 10--15 µm.

Crevices of neutral to acidic rocks; mostly at middle elevations; B.C.; Calif., Idaho, Oreg., Wash.

The leaves with notched distal leaf margins and linear leaves distinguish this species. Amphidium lapponicum has decidedly broader leaves and distal cells obscured by large, warty, cuticular papillae.