Plants bright green, reddish brown, or dark brown. Stems to 1.6 cm. Stem leaves oblong-lanceolate to narrowly lanceolate, not rugose, 1.5-2.3 mm; margins sometimes serrulate at apex; apex gradually acute or acuminate; costa percurrent; distal laminal cells irregularly quadrate to rounded-elliptic, 6-8 µm. Seta 3-5 mm. Capsule 1.4-2 mm. Calyptra smooth.

Logs, trunks of trees to 8 m, undisturbed hemlock hardwood zone; of conservation concern; moderate elevations; N.C.

Schlotheimia lancifolia is extremely rare and endemic to the southern Blue Ridge Escarpment. It differs from S. rugifolia in having non-rugose, gradually acute leaves.