Ecology: Chaco and Chiquitano forest in the lowlands, in the highlands extending from the dry inter-Andean valleys and montane forest to the shrubby páramo and puna; on soil, rocks and logs. Elevation: 400-4000 m (Venezuela: 3100-3200 m, Ecuador: 3020-3600 m, Peru: 2050-4000 m, Bolivia: 400-2450 m). Distribution: Pantropical; in the Western Hemisphere from Southern United States, Mexico, Central America, tropical Andes(except Colombia), Brazil.
Brachymenium systylium is distinguished by the often densely tomentose plants with leaves ± spirally twisted, oblong to ovate-oblong leaves often ending in a capillary tip, indistinct border of 1-2 cell rows, percurrent to short or long excurrent costa, ± thick-walled, rhomboidal upper cells, quadrate or oblate-rectangular basal cells, erect capsules, fragile, hyaline slender exostome teeth, endostome consisting of a basal membrane, opercula short-conic. Synonyms include Brachymenium crinitum (Mitt.) A. Jaeger (Ecuador) and B flexipilum Herzog (Bolivia).