Plants 0.4--1.4 cm. Stem leaves loosely-erect when dry, narrowly lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate, 1.4--2.9 mm; obtuse to bluntly acute; margins strongly revolute to below the apex, entire; distal laminal cells 8--10 µm wide, 1-stratose, with low papillae; basal laminal cells subquadrate to short-rectangular with rounded corners, non-nodose. Sexual condition goniautoicous. Seta less than 1 mm. Capsule emergent; urn oblong to ovate, 1--1.5 mm, 8-ribbed to almost base; stomates immersed; peristome double; endostome segments 8, of 1 row of cells, smooth, often not present; exostome teeth 8, later splitting to 16, reflexed, finely and densely papillose. Calyptra oblong, naked or slightly hairy. Spores 15--19 µm.

Deciduous trees in mesic hardwood forests especially along streams; 100--1000 m; N.B., N.S., Ont., Que.; Ala., Ark., Conn., Del., D.C., Fla., Ga., Ill., Ind., Ky., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Mo., Miss., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Pa., S.C., Tenn., Vt., Va., W.Va.

Orthotrichum ohioense is distinguished by 16 exostome teeth, 8 rudimentary endostome segments, lightly 8-ribbed ovate capsule, leaves that are lanceolate and bluntly acute at apex, and cells less than 10 µm. Orthotrichum stellatum has 8 paired exostome teeth, 8 well-developed endostome segments, and constricted, strongly 8-ribbed capsules.