Ecology and distribution. Open montane to páramo and puna; on soil and soil over rocks. Infrequent, at elevations from 3000-4300 m (Venezuela: 3000 m, Colombia: 3500 m, Ecuador: 3080-4300 m, Peru: 4200 m, Bolivia: 3217 m). Southeast United States, Mexico to Ecuador, also Canary Islands, Java, China, India.
Bryoerythrophyllum inaequalifolium is distinguished by the axillary gemmae, oblong- to ovate-lanceolate leaves to 2 mm, obtuse-rounded apex, entire, revolute margins, and rectangular basal cells.