Ecology: Páramo and puna; exposed on rocks. Elevation: 3500-4150 m. (Colombia: 3500-4150 m, Ecuador: 4000-4600 m, Peru: 3650-3950 m, Bolivia: 4000-5300 m). Distribution: Colombia to Bolivia.
This species may only be a form of Andreaea rupestris, or at least closely related to that species.
Andreaea brevipes Spruce, J. Linn. Soc., Bot.5: 45. 1861. Type: Peru. In monte Titaicum, 12,000-13,000 ped., Spruce [1515 ].