Weissia ligulifolia has long-elliptic leaves with base little wider than the distal lamina, or occasionally even narrower, leaf apex broad, rounded-acute, distal laminal cells sometimes relatively large (like those of
W. sharpii), to 10-13 µm wide, and the capsule is eperistomate or with rudimentary peristome teeth. Specimens identified as the synonym
W. andersoniana differ somewhat by distal laminal cells bulging on both sides and papillae centered or on a pedestal, leaves ligulate; complete intergradation, however, occurs in degree of bulge on both sides of the distal laminal cells, and the degree of centering of the papillae, which grade from low to spiculose, occasionally on a pedestal. This species is much like
Trichostomum planifolium in the leaf shape but has strongly involute distal laminal margins and distal lamina ca. 12-18 cells across on one side of the costa versus plane to laxly involute distal margins and distal lamina 25-30 cells across one side in
T. planifolium.
Weissia andersoniana R. H. Zander is a new name for Weissia glauca E. B. Bartram, an illegitimate name that has been used for this taxon.