Plants to 2.3 cm, yellow-green, olive-green, or brownish. Stem leaves linear-lanceolate to elongate-lanceolate, 1--2 mm; short-acuminate or apiculate apex of 1--3 cells; margins entire; brood bodies elliptic, without longitudinal septae, of 3--5 cells. Sporophytes not found in North America.

Trunks of trees and on rocks; low to middle elevations; Alta., B.C., N.B., N.S., Ont., Que.; Ariz., Calif., Mass., Mich., N.Mex., N.Y., N.C., Oreg., Tenn., Va., Wash., Wis.; ne Mexico; Europe, n Asia; n Africa.