Brachymitrion is a genus of six species (Koponen 1977, 1983; Goffinet 1999) with a Neotropical-African distribution. The genus is sometimes treated as a subgenus of Tayloria, however, Koponen (1977) recognized it as a genus characterized by: 1. few stomata in a short capsule neck, 2. hypophysis absent, 3. differentiated opercula, 4. exothecial cell walls evenly thickened, 5. capsules unchanged when dry, 6. peristome of 16 erect or slightly incurved, variously reticulate exostome teeth that are laterally attached above in pairs. Other distinctive features of the genus include the well-differentiated suboral region of the capsules that consist of thick-walled, rectangular cells oriented at right angles to those of the urn and relatively short setae that do not elongate after spore maturation.

The Central American species of Brachymitrion differ from other regional members of the Splachnaceae in having crenulate, serrulate or spinose-toothed leaf margins. They occur either as epiphytes or on soil. Goffinet (1999) provided a key to the six species of Brachymitrion.