Ecology: Open montane to páramo; in wet habitats, on soil and rocks. Elevation: 2600-3950 m (Ecuador: 3950 m, Peru: 2600 m). Distribution: Widespread in the Northern Hemisphere, tropical Andes, Africa and Australia.
Ecología: Montano abierto a páramo; sobre suelo y rocas. Elevación: 2600-4330 m (Ecuador: 3950 m, Perú: 2600 m, Bolivia: 4270-4330 m). Distribución: Ampliamente distribuida.
Bryum muehlenbeckii is characterized by the often reddish or brown plants, oblong to oblong-ovate leaves to 2 mm, broadly acute to round leaf apex, entire, weakly reflexed margins with indistinct border, strong percurrent to short excurrent costa, firm to ± thick-walled laminal cells,short rhomboidal to hexagonal upper cells and short rectangular basal cells.