Stem erect, 0.5–3 (–5) cm tall, simple, with dense white tomentum of rhizoids at base. Leaves erect-spreading to patent when moist, appressed when dry. Sheath 1.5–2.5 mm long, c. 1.5 mm wide, somewhat abruptly or more gradually narrowed to lamina; cells rectangular to linear, 60–100 μm long, 8–12 μm wide, smooth. Lamina narrowly lingulate, (4–) 5–7 (–10) mm long, 0.6–1 mm wide, plane, covered by lamellae 4–5 (–6) cells high over entire adaxial surface except marginal 2–4 rows of cells, obscuring underlying excurrent costa; lamellae cells quadrate or hexagonal, smooth; apex acute; marginal cells 14–20 μm long, 8–10 μm wide, smooth; margins sharply serrate, narrowly inflexed in apical ¾. Seta 20–40 mm long, reddish-brown or orange red, smooth. Capsule erect, becoming inclined to horizontal, ovoid, straight, 3–5 mm long. Calyptra 8–15 mm long, enveloping the whole capsule, not or somewhat barbed, rarely strongly barbed, with yellowish brown, crimson or ferruginous hairs. Operculum cylindric at base, tapering to short beak.
VVP, GipP, Gold, CVU, GGr, NIS, EGU, WPro, HSF, HNF, Strz, VAlp. In dry or wet sclerophyll forest from the inland foothills and slopes of the Great Dividing Range and south. Also SA, QLD, NSW and ACT.
