Plants 2–7 mm, yellowish green, the main axis often arising from a short fleshy rhizome. Leaves variously contorted when dry, oblong to obovate or spathulate, imbricate, somewhat concave, mostly 2–3 mm; margins serrulate distally; apices acute, abruptly narrowing to a short filiform point about 250 µm in length; costa ending 5–9 cells before the apiculus; basal laminal cells rectangular (50–55 × 20–35 µm), distal cells irregularly quadrate to elongate-hexagonal to short-rectangular, little differentiated along the margins. Seta 6–10 mm, straight, twisted, hygroscopic. Capsule yellowish to brownish, ovoid-pyriform with about half the length in the apophysis, 2–3 mm, sulcate when dry and empty; exothecial cells scarcely thickened, narrowly oblong and transversely elongate in 5–7 rows proximal to the mouth; operculum planoconvex; peristome well developed, exostome teeth reddish brown to brownish yellow, lanceolate, striate papillose, trabeculate basally, terminating in a coarsely papillose tip, endostome evanescent with low, broad, segments. Calyptra cucullate, long-beaked, inflated around the capsule, large, smooth. Spores 20–25 µm, bacculate-insulate.

Habitat: Sandy soil, canyons and desert washes
Elevation: moderate to high elevations

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Ariz., Calif., Utah.

Discussion

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

None.