Specialized asexual structures are often present. Seta 7-17 mm, erect, geniculate, cells smooth and spiraled below the bend, cells straight and papillose by projecting cell ends above the bend, twisted when dry. Spores 13-16 µm. Capsules mature spring-early summer, rare. Well decayed wood, stumps, logs, rarely on rock; sea level to subalpine; Alta., B.C., N.B., Nfld. and Labr., N.S., P.E.I., Que., Yukon; Alaska, Idaho, Maine, N.H., N.Y., Oreg., Wash.; e Asia (Russian Far East).