Ecology: Open high montane and páramo and puna; wet sites, on soil and rocks. Elevation: 3500-3850 m (Venezuela: ? m, Colombia: 3500-3730 m, Peru: 3850 m, possibly Bolivia). Distribution: Endemic to the tropical Andes.
This species is similar to C. cuspidatus but is smaller, lamina narrower, basal lamina cells hyaline, not porose, and thin-walled, alar cells not collenchymatous.
Specimens: VENEZUELA. Mérida: Griffin et al. 322 (FLAS). COLOMBIA. Cundinamarca: Quebrada Chusa, between páramos Palacio & Chingaza, Cleef 5336-B (U).