Ecology: Dry inter-Andean valleys and open montane; on trunk and branches of trees. Elevation: 960-3500 m (Venezuela: 3400-3500 m, Colombia: 1410-2750 m, Ecuador: 3355 m, Peru: 3000 m, Bolivia: 960-2200 m). Distribution: Southeast United States, Mexico, Central America, Colombia to Bolivia.
Syntrichia amphidiacea is characterized by the oblong-spathulate leaves to ca. 3 mm, acute to short acuminate apex, entire, revolute margins in the lower 1/2-2/3, subpercurrent to percurrent costa, unistratose lamina, mostly small, smooth marginal cells forming ± distinct border, and smooth, cylindrical, multicellular gemmae on the ventral leaf surface. Tortula caroliniana A.L. Andrews is a synonym.
Syntrichia amphidiacea se caracteriza por las hojas oblongo-espatuladas hasta ca. 3 mm, ápices agudos a corto acuminados, entero, márgenes revoluto en 1/2-2/3 inferiores, costa subpercurrente a percurrente, lámina uniestratificada, células marginales lisas formando un borde ± conspicuo, generalmente pequeñas, y yemas multicelulares cilíndricas, lisas en la superficie ventral de la hoja. Tortula caroliniana A.L. Andrews es un sinónimo.