Ecology: Montane forest to shrubby páramo and possibly puna; on logs, rarely epiphytic. Elevation: 2000-3950 m (Venezuela: 3350 m, Colombia: 2460 m, Ecuador: 2000-3950 m, Peru: 2300-3300 m, Bolivia: ? m). Distribution: Endemic to the tropical Andes.
Campylopus capitulatus is most similar to and likely to be confused with C. fragilis; both species produce brood leaves in the terminal comal leaves, upper laminal cells subquadrate and basal cells thin-walled, and alar cells absent or weakly developed, however in the former species the leaves are tightly appressed to the stem, in the latter species the leaves are spreading.
Specimens: VENEZUELA. Mérida: Griffin et al. 1588 (FLAS); Táchira: Griffin et al. 550 (FLAS). ECUADOR. Napo: Steere E-135 (NY); Pichincha: Brako 4737 (NY).