Protonematal flaps ovate-lingulate, less than 0.5 mm, dentate, with a large acute apical cell, often mixed in with linear, mucronate flaps. Stem leaves obtuse.

Capsules rare to very rare, mature late summer. Often growing inverted under rock ledges or in crevices, especially in areas of high humidity, sometimes mixed in with other bryophytes, in North America predominantly coastal; B.C., N.B., P.E.I.; Maine; c Europe.