Plants large, soft, 2--4 mm wide measured across leafy stem, to 15 cm long. Stems remotely branched to irregularly pinnate; branches commonly to 12 mm. Stem leaves crowded (stem concealed by leaves), strongly squarrose-recurved, ovate, not plicate or rugose, 2.4--4.2 ´ 1.1--1.9 mm; base subsheathing, rounded to the insertion; apex narrowed to a long, channeled acumen; costae extending to 1/3 leaf; median cells 45--80 ´ 5--7 mm, smooth; alar cells distinct, shorter and wider than basal cells with thin, nonporose walls. Branch leaves ovate to lanceolate, 1.2--2.3 ´ 0.4--0.9 mm. Capsule ovoid, 1.2--2.2 mm.

Usually near seacoast on sand, soil, or rocks, in grassy areas behind beach, in salt marsh, on sea shelf and headlands, or in open thickets and forests; also in grassy disturbed areas, such as lawns, pastures, golf courses; 0--300 m; Greenland; B.C., Nfld; Alaska, Oreg., Wash; Eurasia; Atlantic Islands; Pacific Islands (New Zealand).