Ecology: Rare in the lowlands (e.g., Amazon, Chiquitano), frequent throughout the open montane to páramo and puna; generally on exposed soil and soil covered rock, rarely on logs. Elevation: (200)2000-5100 m (Venezuela: 800-3930 m, Colombia: 200-4340 m, Ecuador: 2400-4250 m, Peru: 400-5100 m, Bolivia: 250-5000 m, Argentina: 1580-4050 m). Distribution: Widespread; in the tropics, commonly found in mountainous regions.
Ecología: Rara en tierras bajas, frecuente a lo largo de regiones montanas abiertas hasta páramo y puna; generalmente en suelo expuesto y suelo cubriendo rocas, raramente sobre leños. Elevación: (200-) 2000-5100 m (Venezuela: 800-3930 m, Colombia: 200-4340 m, Ecuador: 2400-4250 m, Perú: 400-5100 m, Bolivia: 250-5000 m). Distribución: Ampliamente distribuido; en los trópicos, comúnmente en regiones montañosas. Esta especie es más común en los Andes Tropicales en elevaciones medias a altas, ha sido colectada pocas veces en tierras bajas húmedas a semi-secas abiertas.
Bryum argenteum is one of the most commonly collected mosses in the Andean region, probably second only to Polytrichum juniperinum, due in large part to roadside collecting; it is however infrequent to absent in the lowlands. This species is distinguished by the characteristic silver or white coloration of the plants, broadly ovate acuminate leaves to ca. 1.2 mm that are hyline above and usually green below, unbordered and entire margins, firm or thick-walled cells that are rhomboidal above and subquadrate below, and well developed peristome. At least two other species are also whitish in color, B. ellipsifolium and B. insolitum; the former is distinguished by bordered leaf margins, the latter by the erect capsules; both of these species should be reevaluated as with the following species. B. maceratum Müll. Hal., based on a collection made by Lorentz (not Bescherelle as cited by Ochi) in 1873 from an unspecified locality (in declivi Cordillerarum Boliviana) is also similar to B. argenteum, differing according to Ochi (1980: 113) by the larger sized plants, leaves to 1.4 mm long, and larger cells, 60-80 µm long, 16-18 µm wide, pendent capsules and weakly apiculate operculum – all suggesting simiply a rather large B. argenteum. Synonyms include Bryum brachyphyllum Taylor in Mitt., B. candicans Taylor in Mitt., B. corrugatum Hampe, B. leucurum Müll. Hal., B. niveum Herzog, B. stenopyxis Müll. Hal.