Ecology: Montane forest; on soil, humus, base and trunk of trees. Elevation: (140?)1940-3400 m (Venezuela: 140 m, Ecuador: ? m, Peru: 3000 m, Bolivia: 1940-3400 m). Distribution: Mexico, Central America, tropical Andes.
Ecología: Bosque montano; sobre suelo, humus, tronco de arboles. Elevación: (140?)1940-3400 m (Venezuela: 140 m, Ecuador: ? m, Perú: 3000 m, Bolivia: 1940-3400 m). Distribución: México a Andes Tropicales.
Bryum richardsii is related to B. andicola; both species exhibit leaves that are distally crowded and forming a rosette, leafy innovation branches, excurrent leaf costa, margins recurved below and distinctly bordered, and laminal cells porose. The distinctive feature of B. richardsii is the deciduous flagellate innovation branches; other features include the oblong-obovate leaves (to 3.5 mm long), weakly decurrent base, tapered costa, 2-3 rows of long linear border cells. Bryum andicola lacks the flagellate branches, the leaves range from spathulate to oblong-obovate, costa strong, and the border consisting of up to 5 rows of thick-walled cells. It is very likely that this species is more common than presently known.