Pottia heimii var. arctica Lindberg, Öfvers. Kongl. Vetensk.-Akad. Förh. 23: 551. 1867; Desmatodon heimii var. arcticus (Lindberg) H. A. Crum; Gymnostomum obtusifolium R. Br. bis; P. heimii var. obtusifolia (R. Br. bis) I. Hagen

Leaves broadly ovate to broadly elliptic, concave and often cucullate, apex usually obtuse, margins usually entire; costa often ending before the apex.

Capsules mature late summer (Aug). Exposed soil, silt; low elevations; Greenland; N.W.T., Nunavut, Ont.; Alaska; Europe; n Asia.

Variety arctica is a somewhat poorly circumscribed taxon largely restricted to the Arctic. It is generally much smaller than var. heimii, with leaves commonly 0.5-0.8 mm.