Ecology and distribution. Open montane to puna; on soil and rocks. At elevations from 2800-4595 n (Colombia: 2800 m, Peru: 3900 m, Bolivia: 4595 m).
Type: Anacalypta subcespitosa Hampe, Linnaea 32: 127. 1863. Barbula subcaespitosa (Hampe) Broth., Nat. Pflanzenfam. 1(3): 409. 1902. Type: Colombia. [Cundinamarca] Bogota Los Laches ad latera, Barrancos*, 2800 metr., Julio, Lindig 2008 (BM).[*Barrancos sunt latera declivia viarum. Die Seiten der Hohlwege oder Höhenpasse.].