Plants 0.5-2 cm. Stem leaves rigid, erect-appressed when dry, oblong-lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, 2.2-4 mm; margins revolute nearly to apex, often irregularly notched near apex; apex slender-acute, cuspidate; basal laminal cells linear-elongate, walls thick, nodose; distal cells 7-14 µm, 1-stratose, papillae 1 or 2 per cell, conic, small. Specialized asexual reproduction absent. Sexual condition gonioautoicous. Seta 1 mm. Capsule 1/2 emergent when dry, cylindric, 1.5-2 mm, distinctly 8-ribbed entire length when mature; stomata superficial; peristome double; prostome absent; exostome teeth 16, , recurved when dry, , densely papillose; endostome segments 16, well developed, , of 2 rows of cells, , densely papillose. Calyptra conic-oblong, smooth, hairy, hairs papillose. Spores 17-27 µm.

Trunks and branches of live and dead Quercus montana; moderate to high elevations (1500-2000 m); N.C., Va.

Orthotrichum keeverae is the only species in southeastern North America with 16 recurved exostome teeth, a stout endostome, and cuspidate leaf apices. The exostome teeth are truncate and partially connate at the base, forming a basal membrane.