Plants yellow-green to olive-green. Stems c. 10 mm long. Leaves erect-spreading, decurrent, oblong to ovate-lanceolate, 1.5–2.2 mm long, 0.6–1.0 mm wide; margin entire below the coarsely toothed apex; costa ending just below the apex; laminal cells usually hexagonal above and subquadrate below, thick-walled, 12–19 µm, rarely larger.

Perichaetial bracts lanceolate, often with a long tapering twisted hairpoint. Setae to 20 mm long. Capsules inclined to pendulous (rarely erect), cylindrical to urceolate, widest at the mouth, c. 2 mm long; operculum long-rostrate. Exostome covered in small blunt papillae; endostome with 3 papillose cilia per segment. Spores 14–18 µm.

Occurs in N.S.W. south of Port Macquarie and in A.C.T., Vic. and Tas. Also known from New Zealand and SE Asia.

Grows on tree ferns and fallen or rotting logs.

Rhizogonium distichum (Sw.) Brid., Bryol. Univ. 2: 665 (1827); Hypnum distichum Sw., J. Bot. (Schrader) 2: 179 (1801) [3f. A. 1802]; Mnium distichum (Sw.) Müll.Hal., Syn. Musc. Frond. 1: 173 (1848). Type: “Dusky Bay” [Dusky Sound], New Zealand, 1791, A.Menzies 89; isotype?: BM.

Rhizogonium muelleri Hampe, Linnaea 28: 211 (1856). Type: Sealers Cove, Vic., coll. unknown; holotype: BM.

N.S.W.: Mongarlowe R., H.Streimann 49025 (CANB).

A.C.T.: Gully along Warks Rd, S.R.Gilmore 170 (CANB).

Vic.: Mitchell River Natl Park, H.Streimann 50221 (CANB).

Tas.: Tasman Penin., W.A.Weymouth 1672 (CANB).

Rhizogonium distichum differs from other species by the costa ending below the apex and by lacking elongate cells between the tip of the costa and the tip of the leaf. Although few in number, the teeth on the leaf apex are quite distinctive, consisting of 1–3 cells with a larger, central tooth above the costa.

J.Beever, K.W.Allison & J.Child, Mosses of New Zealand, 2nd edn 102, fig. 45g (1992).