Autoicous. Plants loosely tufted on rock. Stems irregularly to pinnately branched; stoloniferous stems present or absent. Leaves in 8 rows, ovate, ovate-lanceolate or oblong-lanceolate, concave, ecostate; apex ±hyaline, acute to acuminate; margin recurved at least at the base, entire or denticulate above, unbordered. Laminal cells thick-walled, papillose, with simple or branched papillae; central basal cells elongate.

Perichaetia terminal on branches; perichaetial leaves larger than stem leaves, with or without ciliate margins. Calyptra small, fugacious, mitrate or cucullate. Seta very short or absent. Capsule immersed to slightly exserted, erect, symmetrical, ±widest at the mouth; operculum flat with a small apiculus or rostrate. Peristome absent. Spores rather large.

A widespread family of c. five genera, two of which are known from Australia, each represented by a single species

Hedwigiaceae Schimp., Coroll. Bryol. Europ. 52 (1856). Type: Hedwigia P.Beauv.

The difference between Hedwigia and Hedwigidium are comparatively minor, and the two taxa are often accommodated within Hedwigia.

Gilmore, S.R. (2012). Australian Mosses Online 4. Hedwigiaceae. Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra. Version 10 April 2012. http://www.anbg.gov.au/abrs/Mosses_online/04_Hedwig.html