The four Dicranum species in Central America represent two phytogeographic groups: Northern Hemispheric (D. flagellare and D. rhabdocarpum) and Southern Hemispheric (D. frigidum and D. peruvianum). Three of the species (D. flagellare, D. rhabdocarpum, and D. peruvianum) have the more or less erect capsules typical of the segregate genus Orthodicranum