Plants tufted, medium sized, prostate to erect, to 5 cm, densely to loosely pinnately branched, sometimes asymmetric, branches 0.2--1.5 cm, julaceous. Leaves straight to weakly falcate, ovate or widely oblong, concave, acumen abruptly narrowed to short-acuminate, subentire. Seta 1--1.5 cm. Capsules ca. 1 mm.

Confined to horizontal, rather than vertical surfaces, strongly illuminated sites, especially in mountains and at higher latitudes; 100--2500 m.; N.W.T., Yukon; Alaska, Colo.; Europe; Indian Ocean Islands (Kerguelen).