British Status: Common

When well-grown this is a distinctive moss, with its rich golden-yellow to orange-brown colouring and regular pinnate branching. A notable feature is the coat (tomentum) of thick reddish-brown rhizoids (or radicles) which often clothe the lower parts of the stem. The leaves are longly tapering to pointed tips, and curved round like a sickle. They have a nerve running their length and distinct auricles at their basal corners.

Two varieties are recognised: var. commutatum and var. falcatum. They occupy somewhat different ecological niches but always occur where calcium is present in significant amounts.