Plants in rigid, dark -green or brown mats. Branches ascending, terete and somewhat tapering, ± tightly foliate, not curved at tips. Stem leaves 0.4--0.7 mm, more slenderly acuminate than branch leaves. Branch leaves ± crowded, erect, not or only slightly 2-plicate when dry, erect-spreading when moist, 0.2--0.5 mm, ovate-lanceolate, gradually acuminate to an acute, apex often blunt; margins plane, entire to subserrulate distally; costa subpercurent, slightly roughened on back, especially in proximal part of leaf; distal cells 4--7 μm, bulging-papillose abaxially. Seta 4--9 mm, yellow-brown. Capsules straight, cylindric, yellow-brown, 1.2--1.8 mm; annulus of 1--2 rows of cells; exostome teeth whitish, cross-striolate near base; endostome segments irregular, segments very short and irregular. Spores 9--13 μm, very finely papillose.

Capsules mature throughout year. Lower trunks and bases of hardwood trees and bald cypress, logs, low woods along rivers, streams, sloughs, swamps; 5--350 m; Ala., Ark., Del., Fla., Ga., La., Miss., Mo., N.C., Tenn., Tex.

This slender species is common on the Coastal Plain of the southeastern United States. Rigid, dark-green or brownish mats with ascending, terete, and somewhat tapering branches and small leaves make this species easy to recognize.