Forms short, untidy, dense, yellow-green to mid-green turfs and spreading patches to 3 cm tall, but usually less than 1 cm. Patches are often covered with deciduous leaves or shoot tips. The leaves are 2.5-7.5 mm long, erect and more or less straight when moist, and the longer upper leaves become somewhat wavy when dry. Capsules are occasional on a wavy seta which may curve down so that the capsule is hidden amongst the leaves.

Bare, acidic peaty or sandy soils in woodland or on moorland, often favouring sites where there has been some disturbance on banks, ditches or burnt ground. It may also be found growing on peaty soil in plant pots.

All year round

Widespread and fairly frequent throughout most of Britain.

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland.