Plants small to large. Stems 2-20 cm. Leaves with distalmost not spiraled around stem, sometimes appressed, not catenulate, erect to spreading, imbricate, ovate-lanceolate, plane, or 2-plicate near base. Capsule 2-3 mm.

Capsules mature year-round. Rock, soil, seepy, open habitats; low to high elevations (0-3500 m); Greenland; Alta., B.C., Man., N.B., Nfld. and Labr., N.W.T., N.S., Nunavut, Ont., Que., Sask., Yukon; Ala., Alaska, Ariz., Calif., Colo., Fla., Ga., Idaho, Ill., Kans., Maine, Mich., Mo., Mont., Nebr., Nev., N.Mex., N.Y., N.C., Pa., S.C., S.Dak., Tenn., Tex., Utah, Vt., Va., Wash., Wyo.; Mexico; c, w Europe; Asia; e, n Africa.

Philonotis fontana var. caespitosa (Juratzka) Schimper; P. fontana var. falcata (Hooker) Bridel

While the breadth of variation in var. fontana is immense, crucial characters include the typically robust habit and imbricate, laxly erect, straight, falcate or secund leaves. Plants that are subject to prolonged periods of submersion may develop unusual morphology.