Anisothecium rufescens (With.) Lindb., Musci Scand. 26. 1879. Bryum rufescens With., Syst. Arr. Brit. Pl., ed. 4, 3: 801. 1801. Dicranum rufescens (With) Turn., Musc. Hibern. 66. 1804. Dicranella rufescens (With.) Schimp., Coroll. Bryol. Eur. 13. 1855. Type. Scotland, Dickson.
Plants reddish brown; stems 5–10(–15) mm high. Leaves 1–2 mm long, lower leaves distant and spreading, upper leaves erect-spreading to subsecund, lanceolate-triangular, gradually narrowed to a broadly acute apex, somewhat keeled above; margins plane, slightly serrulate to sinuate-dentate above the leaf shoulders, serrulate at apex; costa broad, subpercurrent to shortly excurrent; leaf cells long rectangular, thin-walled, 6–10 µm × 40–60 µm long, marginal leaf cells somewhat inflated and bulging. Setae 5–7 mm long, red-brown, smooth; capsules 0.75 mm long, ovoid, reddish brown, erect, symmetrical, smooth; opercula 0.5–0.6 mm long, conic at base, short-rostrate; peristome teeth 300–350 µm high, red, striate-papillose, divided 1/2 their lengths, basal membrane 50 µm high, smooth, darker red, with thicker trabeculae. Spores 16–25 µm, lightly papillose, yellowish.