Syntrichia sucrosa is described and illustrated as a new species from California. It is characterized by 1–4, pedicellate, bifurcate or stellate-branched papillae per cell, upper laminal cells 8–11 µm in width, costa with hydroids and 2–4 layers of stereid cells, and margins recurved in the basal ¾ of the ± lingulate leaf. A key to the mosses with pedicellate papillae in the Northern Hemisphere is presented.