[2][3] Hypnales are mosses with pinnately or irregularly branched, reclining stems, with varying appearances.

The stem contains only a reduced central vascular bundle, which is seen as a recent derived trait in mosses.

The cells of the leaf blade are prosenchymatic, many times longer than wide, with pointed ends interlocking.

The spores are distributed via a ring-shaped opening with two rows of teeth, the peristome, which before ripeness is closed by a beak-shaped operculum.

[4] Hypnales are terrestrial, epiphytic or lithophytic plants that occur in the most diverse biotopes and are distributed worldwide.