Plants 0.1--0.4 cm high. Stem leaves contorted-crisped, some tightly twisted when dry, linear to linear-lanceolate, 1.8--4 mm long, leaf base ovate, concave; margin reflexed, distal laminal cells 7--13 µm wide, with 1--2 conic, sometimes large, papillae; basal laminal cells elongate, grading to quadrate at margin, with thickened cross-walls, not nodose. Sexual Condition autoicous. Seta 2--7(--10) mm. Capsule oblong to oblong-conic, 1.2--2.5 mm, 8-ribbed for 1/2--3/4 length; stomates numerous in neck; peristome double; endostome segments 8, finely reticulate; exostome teeth 8, reflexed to recurved, densely and finely papillose, perforate in distal 1/2. Calyptra conic, very hairy. Spores 24--32 µm.

A common epiphyte in the west coast temperate rain forest; low elevations; B.C.; Alaska, Calif., Oreg., Wash. Restricted to w North America.

This species has conspicuously twisted and contorted leaves, even when wet. The long capsules, which are not much contracted beneath the mouth and peristome, remain erect for much of its maturity. The plants are larger than those of U. crispa. It is distributed from northern California north to southern Alaska, occurring inland in western Washington and disjunct in SE British Columbia, whereas U. crispa is confined in North America to the eastern half of the continent, and reports of it from the west are mostly young plants of U. obtusiuscula. On the west coast, no other species of Ulota has such strongly twisted leaves and forms cushions.