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

Species description:
Species name emphasizing the hooked or curved leaves.

Reproduction:
Sporophytes frequent, maturing in spring to summer. Sporangia are erect in some (usually epiphytic) populations but are gen­erally inclined and curved.

Distinguishing characteristics:
The well-drained habitat, combined with the single midrib in pleated, curved leaves, are usually enough to separate this species. Unfortunately some forms lack the pleats and can be puzzling. The pleats, even when present, can be confused as multiple midribs.

Habit:
Soft, light green mats, either loosely, or firmly, affixed to the substratum; varying from regularly pinnate to extremely irregular branching, from erect or suberect to reclining shoots.

Similar Species:
Species of Hypnum are superficially similar, but lack the single midrib. Tomentypnum falcifolium closely resembles this species but it is confined to calcareous wetland; the main stem is also usually densely clothed with red rhizoids. Ptilium crista-castrensis is more regularly and abundantly branched and the leaves lack the single midrib. Comments: Sometimes treated as Sanionia uncinata.