A distinctive little moss with twisted leaves when dry, which grows in loose, slightly branched, yellowish-green tufts that are usually less than 1 cm tall, but may grow to about 2 cm in height. Leaves are 2 to 2.5 mm long. Unlike most other members of the genus, O. pulchellum holds its 1.5 mm long capsules 1 or 2 mm clear of the leaves. These capsules are pale red-brown when old and dry, and have 8 reflexed, orange teeth; when unripe, they are tipped with dark brown and with a series of dark dots around the lower margin.

This moss is nearly always recorded as growing on willow, usually on the twigs, only occasionally on the trunk.

All year round.

Widespread and increasingly common in eastern Britain, not quite as common but still widespread in the west.

Occasional in Leicestershire and Rutland.