Ecology: Lowland to montane forest; on soil, soil of termite nests, logs, base and trunk of trees. Elevation: 40-2770 m (Venezuela: 40-1800 m, Colombia: 130-2100 m, Ecuador: 1650-2770 m, Peru: 500-2750 m, Bolivia: 120-2150 m, Argentina: 600-1480 m). Distribution: Mexico, Central America, West Indies, northern South America, and southeast United States.
Fissidens elegans is characterized by the oblong-lanceolate leaves, acute apex subpercurrent, rarely excurrent costa ending in a sharp, clear cell, bordered on vaginant laminae (marginal or intramarginal), margin crenulate-serrulate above, entire or denticulate on vaginant laminae, firm-walled, pluripapillose laminal cells. Synonyms include Fissidens camptodontius Kindb., F. flavinervis Mitt., F. leptopodus Cardot.
Fissidens elegans se caracteriza por tener las hojas oblongo-lanceoladas, ápices agudos costa subpercurrente, rara vez excurrente terminando en una célula afilada y clara, lámina vaginante bordeada (marginal o intramarginal), margen crenulado-serrulado distalmente, entero o denticulado en la lámina vaginante, células de la lámina con paredes firmes y pluripapilosas.