Description: This moss appears green when wet or dry. Leaves are ligulate (tongue-like) with essentially parallel margins, and with a very slight incurvature of the leaf apex (appears like a hook). Capsule with a peristome (“trichostomum” is the Greek word for hairy mouth, referring to the fine, filiform teeth of the peristome in this genus).
Habitat: Known to occur in sandstone bluffs and sandstone-derived soil, often shaded by rocks, in creosote-bursage community. Elevations: 610-680 m (2,000-2,230 ft).
Range: Known globally from fewer than ten populations; this moss was first described from the Virgin Mountains (type locality) in Clark County, Nevada. However, recent attempts to relocate the type population in the Virgin Mountains proved unsuccessful. One large population was located on the ancient sand dune formations at the Red Stone Picnic Area within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Also known to occur in Arizona and California.
Comments: Distinguishing features of this Trichostomum include the very slight incurvature of the leaf apex, as opposed to the highly incurved leaf margins in Weissia, a closely related genus.