[5] The leaves of juniper haircap moss are lanceolate and upright spreading when dry, and when moist, wide-spreading.

Other areas they occupy are mineral soil, humus and rocks, stumps, banks, trailsides and dry open woods.

[5] The male plants are very noticeable due to their bright reddish orange modified leaves that form small terminal 'flowers' at the shoot ends.

Water is required for reproduction to take place, to enable the sperm to swim down the neck of the archegonia to reach the egg.

Once fertilization takes place, the sporophyte of the juniper haircap moss lives on the female gametophyte, growing out of the archegonia.