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

Species description:
Species name referring to the down-like appearance of dry mats as viewed from a distance.

Reproduction:
Sporophytes occasional, sometimes locally abundant in populations near the coast, found most abundantly near bases of mounds on· boulder slopes and sloping outcrops.

Distinguishing characteristics:
The usually distant, short, lateral branches, the white hair points with the teeth showing curved sinuses between them, and the sporophytes on short branches well below the stem apex are useful features. When moist, the plants are a dark grey-green.

Habit:
Forming grayish-green to whitish-green, rounded masses or mats of loosely, but regularly short-branched plants that sometimes become almost white when dry

Similar Species:
See notes under R. canescens and R. heterostichum.