Plants in hoary tufts, reddish to blackish green, glossy. Stems 2--8 cm, without or with small central strand. Stem leaves straight to slightly twisted when dry, erectopatent when moist, of uniform length throughout stem, loosely appressed, lanceolate, 2--2.5 × 0.5--0.8 mm, sharply keeled, margin recurved on one side, awns long, smooth to slightly denticulate, flattened at base, costa slightly projecting on dorsal side; distal laminal cells 1-stratose, apex and distal margins 2-stratose; medial laminal cells irregularly quadrate, sinuose, thick-walled; basal juxtacostal laminal cells linear, straight to sinuose, thick-walled; basal marginal laminal cells quadrate with thickened transverse walls. Gemmae in clusters, orange-brown, on short stalks, occasionally present on abaxial lamina. Sexual condition dioicous. Seta flexuose, 4--5 mm. Capsule sporadically present, exserted, clavate-ovoid, brown, ribbed, exothecial cells thin-walled, annulus present, operculum rostrate, peristome teeth orange, fully developed, perforated in distal part, smooth proximally, papillose distally. Calytra mitrate.

Dry rocks, but also on top of boulders in marshes; of conservation concern; 0--1500 m; Calif.; Mexico; South America (Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela); Europe; Pacific Islands (New Zealand); Australia.

Grimmia austrofunalis has a misleading name and a disjunct distribution because, although described from Australia, it is widespread in Europe and South America, and it has nothing to do with G. funalis (H. C. Greven 1997). From South America, the species has been described as G. benoistii Thér., G. crassiretis Cardot & Broth., and G. pansa R.S. Williams. From Britain, it was described as G. robusta Ferg., later renamed as G. britannica (Smith 1992). In North America, G. austrofunalis has its most northern distribution in California. Grimmia austrofunalis might be confused with large forms of G. trichophyla. It differs by having glossy, reddish-brown stems, blackish below; leaves of uniform length along stem, margin recurved on one side only; 1-stratose distal margins; basal juxtacostal cells linear with thick walls; seta flexuose when moist, and brown, clavate capsules.