Autoicous, stiff, pale-dark green, 1-2 cm long and 1-1 1/2 mm wide. Stem procumbent, irregularly and richly branched, rhizoids sparse. Leaves on sterile shoots rather distant, obliquely inserted, of almost equal size, erect or horizontal, shortly decurrent, somewhat larger towards the apex of the female shoots, here more approximate and almost transversely inserted, only moderately asymmetrical, broadly ovoid, both margins arched, bilobed to 1/5, seldom trilobed, lobes acute and sinus lunate. Cells small, at the margin of the leaves 10-12 µ, in the middle 13-20 µ thin walled, without distinct trigones. Amphigastria of varying size, spreading from the stem, bilobed to 2/3, lobes narrow and acute. Female bracts somewhat larger than the leaves, wider, bilobed, in the upper portion irregularly and acutely dentate. Perianth apical, trigonous, mouth wide, with 3 irregularly dentate short lobes. Spores 10-12 µ, elaters 6-7 µ wide. Male organs apical or intercalary on branches below the female organ, fusiform, narrow, with 5-10 pairs of imbricate bracts. var. capensis: Leaves bilobed and irregularly dentate, teeth 1-2 cells long. Amphigastria in weak shoots of the same appearance as in main form, in well developed shoots, large, imbricate-approximate, obovate, apex shortly incised, margins shortly dentate. Perianth of the same shape as in the main form, older surface occasionally with a few short papillae. It differs from the main form by larger, obovate amphigastria.
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