Dioicous. Dense tuft or cushion on rock or soil. Stems 1–6 cm long, branched by innovations. Leaves 1–3 mm long, concave; apex obtuse; costa not reaching apex or percurrent; margin with several rows of narrower cells forming a distinct border; laminal cells linear throughout, at least 50–100 μm long, slightly shorter at base. Sporophytes not known from Australia. Seta 20–45 mm long, reddish. Capsules suberect or inclined, pyriform, 3–4 mm long. Operculum conic, apiculate.
VVP, Gold, CVU, GGr, NIS, EGU, HSF, HNF, OtR, VAlp. Rocky streams along and south of the Great Dividing Range but particularly common in the alpine and subalpine zones. Also WA, NSW, ACT and Tas. New Zealand and Campbell Island.