Plants of long, branching stems tangled together and forming mats or hanging clumps. Leaves are highly variable, but generally under a millimeter long, roughly egg-shaped. Leaves have a strong midrib (a costa in moss lingo), most clearly seen at the tip of the branch in the lowest picture. The midrib may reach the tip of the leaf, or stop before the tip, or extend beyond the tip. On older branches the leaves erode away leaving only the costa; compare the older and younger stems in the middle picture of the second row..

A plant at home in many habitats, from fairly dry forest floors, to soaking wet areas, dangling from weeping cliffs or trailing in streams. May be found in both acid and basic soils and waters.

Known throughout the United States (including Hawaii) and Canada. Also in South America, Greenland, Europe, Asia and Africa. In Wildwood it forms dripping curtains hanging from the weeping tufa near the Main Street entrance (upper left).

Other mosses are also found on the tufa, including Tufa Moss (Hymenostylium recurvirostrum).