Involucral leaves 2–6, the outer smaller, the inner variously cut; perianth small, obconic or campanulate, 3-angled and 3-lobed only at the apex, the lobes usually spinose.

Prostrate, horizontally branched, copiously rooting; leaves imbricate, horizontal, oval, entire or slightly repand; underleaves lanceolate; perianth terminal, broadly obconic, the mouth compressed, repand-crenulate.

Involucres sessile, obconic or pyriform, perforated at the apex, continuous with the thallus at base.

Stems 6–10´´ long; leaves retuse, entire or irregularly indented; perianth obconic, dentate; elaters short and thick; spores brown, depressed-globose-tetrahedral, 40 µ broad, crested, the slender crests pellucid, rarely becoming confluent.—On damp ground.

Perigynium obconic or obovoid, squarrose in exceedingly dense short spikes.—Sp.