Lescuraea radicosa var. compacta (Best) E. Lawton; Pseudoleskea pallida Best

Plants small, bright green. Stems with apices not distinctly hooked, branches many. Leaves often somewhat incurved, appressed, not falcate-secund, strongly concave, 2-plicate, 0.8-1.3 mm; apex abruptly acute to short-acuminate; medial laminal cells pellucid.

Capsules mature Jun-Aug. Dry siliceous boulders, calcareous rock, mineral soil, subalpine-alpine; moderate to high elevations (900-4000 m); Alta., B.C., Nfld. and Labr., Que., Yukon; Ariz., Calif., Colo., Idaho, Oreg., Utah, Wyo.; n Europe.

Variety compacta is distinctive and may be a good species, distinguished by its bright green color, small size, ovate concave leaves that often incurve when dry, and clear laminal cells.