Stem leaves acute to narrowly obtuse; leaf base 1-stratose in distal portion; distal laminal cells 8--14 µm wide, with small, conic papillae; basal laminal cells ± nodose, thick-walled.

Acidic rocks; low to mid-elevations; N.B., Nfld., N.S., Ont., Que.; Ala., Alaska, Ariz., Ark., Conn., Del., Ga., Ky., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., Mo., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Okla., Pa., R.I., S.C., S.D., Tenn., Vt., Va., W.Va.; Europe; Asia.