Ecology: Premontane to high montane forest; mostly shaded habitats, on moist or wet soil and rocks, particularly common along streams, infrequently found on logs. Elevation: 460-3550 m (Venezuela: 1300-2400 m, Colombia: 1000-3550 m, Ecuador: 460-3050 m, Peru: 1050-2700 m, Bolivia: 1150-3500 m, Argentina: 900-1560 m). Distribution: Nearly pantropical; in the Neotropics absent from the lowlands and arid highlands (except along streams or canyons).
Fissidens asplenioides is characterized by the rather large plants, leaves distally incurved when dry, mostly to 3 mm long, unbordered, crenulate leaf margins, and smooth, bulging laminal cells above, marginal cells at base often rectangular but not forming a distinct border. Synonyms include Fissidens amboroicus Herzog, F. genunervis Müll. Hal., F. obtusissimus Müll. Hal. ex Broth., F. revolvens Schimp. in Müll. Hal., F. turbinatus Taylor.
Fissidens asplenioides se caracteriza por las plantas muy grandes, hojas distalmente incurvadas en seco, generalmente hasta 3 mm de largo, sin borde, márgenes de las hojas crenulados, células de la lámina abultadas arriba, células del margen en la base a menudo rectangulares pero no formando un borde conspicuo.