Plants with numerous flagelliform shoots, these 2--5 mm with three ranked, tightly appressed linear to lanceolate leaves at the base of the stem; thallose protonematal flaps ovate-lanceolate, lacking a distinct mucronate point, margins ± dentate, less than 0.5 mm. Leaves with costa absent. Spores about 16 µm.

Capsules rare to very rare, maturing late summer. Often growing inverted under rock ledges or in crevices, especially in areas of high humidity sometimes mixed in with other bryophytes; in North America it occurs in subalpine areas; B.C.; Alaska, Wash.; Europe; Japan.