Plants 2-5 mm, green to yellow-green, stem with a few scale-like leaves proximally becoming crowded and bulbiform distally. Leaves few and small proximally, distal leaves 1.5-2.5 mm, concave, broadly oblong-ovate to broadly obovate distally, some approaching a length-width ratio of 1.2:1, broadly acute to (mostly) obtuse with a few tiny teeth at the point, entire basally; costa percurrent; distal laminal cells thin-walled, elongate-hexagonal, soon becoming elongate oblong-rectangular proximally. Seta usually 7-12 mm, hygroscopic, sometimes cygneous when young and becoming variously contorted at maturity. Capsule 1.5-2 mm, obovate, weakly to moderately curved, inclined to horizontal, wrinkled when dry, mouth slightly oblique and nearly the diameter of the capsule, annulus revoluble, operculum convex; peristome inserted just below the rim at the mouth of the capsule, teeth lanceolate, golden brown below and hyaline at the tips, trabeculate and papillate-striate basally becoming spiculate-papillate toward the hyaline tip that is appendiculate and papillate distally, endostome a low, transparent, almost smooth membrane 3-5 cells high with rounded segments of 1-3 cells. Calyptra cucullate, smooth. Spores 25-32 µm, finely papillose.