Autoicous. Loose to moderately dense tufts on soil. Stems 2–4 mm long, once-branched, red-brown. Leaves oblong-obovate, 2–2.9 mm long, concave adaxially, slightly spreading when moist, appressed when dry; costa extending to c. 8 cells below apex; margins bluntly toothed in apical 1/3 by projecting cells, erect, with scarcely differentiated cells, longer than adjacent cells; apex acuminate; laminal cells in apical half oblong-hexagonal, (45–) 60–90 μm long, c. 30 μm wide, more oblong, 60–120 μm long, 20–35 μm wide near base; alar cells not or weakly differentiated. Seta 5–10 mm long, pale reddish brown. Capsule oblong-obovoid, asymmetric, weakly inclined, (2.3–) 2.5–3.2 mm long. Operculum low conic. Peristome double; endostome well developed, to c. 300 μm long.
MuM, HSF, OtR. Widespread on bare soil in disturbed sites (e.g. roadsides), open areas and among sclerophyll woodland, mainly throughout the western half of the state. Widespread throughout Australia south of the Tropic of Capricorn. New Zealand, North America, Middle East, Africa and Europe.
