E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

Species description:
Species name referring to the leaves that become much twisted when dry.

Reproduction:
Sporophytes frequent in summer, yellowish to pale brown.

Distinguishing characteristics:
With sporophytes, and based on its habi­tat, the very contorted leaves and suberect to erect sporangium are diagnostic.

Habit:
Forming dark green to yellow-green tufts.

Similar Species:
Some species of Kiaeria, found in similar habitats and at the same elevation, can be confused with D. crispula. In Kiaeria, however, the leaves are usually curved on a single side of the shoot and the sporangia are not erect. Amphidium, which also occurs in rock crev­ices, is easily distinguished when with sporophytes by the short seta and the sporangium that is grooved when dry. Amphidium also lacks peristome teeth. Sterile tufts of Amphidium are dense and are confined to crevices.