Ecology: Lowlands including Chaco and Chiquitano forest, open montane to páramo and humid puna; on soil, rocks, humus, logs, base and trunk of trees. Elevation: 400-4450 m (Venezuela: 2285-3290 m, Colombia: 930-4260 m, Ecuador: 3080-3690 m, Peru: 1000-4350 m, Bolivia: 400-4450 m). Distribution: Widespread.
Ecología: Montano abierto a páramo; sobre suelo, humus, leños, base y troncos de árboles. Elevación: 930-4450 m (Venezuela: 2285-3290 m, Colombia: 930-4260 m, Ecuador: 3080-3690 m, Perú: 1000-4350 m, Bolivia: 1500-4450 m). Distribución: Ampliamente distribuida.
Bryum capillare, in its typical form, is characterized by the leaves twisted about the stem when dry, oblong to oblong leaves (ca. 1-4 mm long), recurved and border (by 3-5 linear rows of cells), rather long excurrent costa, rhomboidal upper cells, oblong to short rectangular basal cells. Bryum atenense is similar if not identical to B. capillare (or ‘Capillare group’); see comments under that species. Synonyms included by Ochi are Bryum erythroneuron Mitt., B. leptoloma Müll. Hal., B. terebellum Hampe.