Plants dull, green, yellow-green or yellow-brown distally, brown proximally, becoming reddish at higher latitudes and altitudes, elongate. Stems 1-6 cm, leaves distantly disposed along the stem with the shining leaf bases usually apparent, central strand nearly always absent, rarely present, sclerodermis moderately developed, 2-3(-4) cells deep, cells of the central cylinder rather thick-walled, stems visibly tomentose with dense red-brown radicles, rarely nearly eradiculose in very small stems. Stem leaves rather soft, uniform in size, strongly crisped or contorted with spirally curled tips when dry, flexuose-to widespreading when moist, long-lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, broadly to narrowly concave or nearly plane proximally to more or less keeled in the apical region, (2-)3-6.5(-7) mm; base somewhat broader than limb, oblong; margins usually shortly and strongly undulate, evenly crenulate-papillose, gradually subulate-acuminate, apex acumination confluent with the mucro, leaves at the extreme stem apex surmounted by a stout, multicellular mucro; costa excurrent as a long, smooth or denticulate mucro or short awn, usually composed of 5-10 rhomboidal cells, adaxial cells of the costa variable, costa distal to the leaf base to the distal median region covered by an epidermis of quadrate to short-rectangular (2:1) papillose cells, in the distal adaxial region variously with a narrow or broader central groove of exposed, smooth, elongate (8:1) stereid cells, occasionally the groove conspicuous and extensive; proximal laminal cells abruptly differentiated from distal cells, hyaline, laxly thin-walled; distal laminal cells 1-stratose, quadrate, 7-10(-13) µm wide, marginal cells undifferentiated. Specialized asexual reproduction none except possibly through fragility of the lamina in some populations, or weakness toward the apex. Sexual condition dioicous, but seldom fruiting; perigoniate plants rare; perigonia apparently few per stem, inner perigonial bracts ovate and abruptly apiculate, scarcely longer than the antheridia, 0.5 mm; perichaetiate plants common; perichaetia numerous on the stem; perichaetial leaves differentiated even in unfertilized perichaetia, slender and erect at the base, long, 5-5.5 mm, somewhat sheathing, distal part, consisting mostly of costa, setaceous-subulate, erect, in fertile plants, stiff and slightly flexuose, distinct and conspicuous above the tightly crisped cauline leaves when dry. Seta 0.9-2.7(-3.5) cm. Capsule 1.5-3.3 mm; annulus not vesiculose; operculum 1.5-2 mm; peristome teeth long and spirally wound 2 or 3 times, 1.1-1.4 mm.
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