Plants hoary white to silver-green. Stems shorter than 0.2 cm, gemmiform to short-julaceous. Leaves often broader than long, hyaline in distal 1/4-1/2; costal apiculus absent or very short, of 1 or 2 cells; distal laminal cells short-hexagonal, (1-)2-3:1, sometimes a few quadrate cells present.

Capsules unknown. Dry soil, soil over rock, crevices, lowland deserts to dry alpine tundra; low to high elevations (0-4000 m); Ariz., Calif., Colo., Nev., N.Mex., Utah; South America; Australia; Antarctica.

Variety muticum is widespread in extreme environments, but the world distribution is not well known.