Ecology and distribution. Open montane to puna; on soil. At elevations from 1268-4710 m (Colombia: 1268 m, Peru: 2350-2700 m, Bolivia: 2700-4710 m). Reported by P. Sollman (in B. O’Shea, J. Eggers, R. A. Pursell, P. Sollman & C. R. Stevenson. 1997. New bryophyte taxon records for tropical countries. Trop. Bryol. 13: 175-183).
Bryoerythrophyllum ferruginascens is characterized by the ovate-triangular to short lanceolate leaves to 1.8 mm, acute apices, entire, recurved (lower half) margins, percurrent costa, 2 stereid bands, ± thick-walled laminal cells, quadrate, papillose upper cells, hyaline or yellowish, weakly papillose, rectangular basal cells. Red or brown, obovoid propagula are often present on rhizoids.