A widespread African-Neotropical species found from Chile north to the Southwestern US. This species replaces R. billarderii in warmer climates in Chile and is rare south of the Maule Region. It is found principally on damp to dry soil or soil over rock, rarely on fallen logs and tree stumps. The species is characterized by dioicous sexual condition, strongly rosulate stems, large leaves that are spirally twisted around the stem when dry, a costa excurrent in a short awn, a very well-developed wide limbidium, sharply serrate distal leaf margins, and brown filiform gemmae in the leaf axils of sterile shoots. The rhizoidal tubers are red to red-brown and can be > 1 mm in diameter. (Illustrations: Mohamed 1979: 422, as Bryum andicola; Magill 1987: 382, as B. andicola).

Representative specimen examined: Region VIII, Bío Bío Province, Ecological Reserve Coligual, 37°23'S 71°40'W, ca. 630 m, on forest floor, clay banks along road with adjacent native forest, R.R. Ireland & G. Bellolio 35234, 21 Nov. 2002 (MO).

The common widespread species of large Rosulabryum from central Chile south to Aisén. The species is also found in Argentina, the Falkland Islands, Australia, New Zealand and Macquarie Island (Spence and Ramsay 2019). In the Magellanes Region it is largely replaced by R. perlimbatum. The species occurs in a variety of forested and semi-open habitats, often in shade on mesic to damp soil banks, fallen logs, tree stumps and soil-covered ledges. It is characterized by dioicous sexual condition, strongly rosulate stems, large leaves that are irregularly contorted when dry, a costa excurrent into a short awn, a strong limbidium, serrate leaf margins, and brown to red-brown rhizoidal tubers (Illustrations: Mohamed 1979: 407, as Bryum billarderii; Spence and Ramsay 2006: 335, as R. billarderii; Fife 2015: 84, as R. billarderii).

Aisén Region, Provincia Capitán Prat, cruzando pasarela Río Ñadis, en bosque de Nothofagus dombeyi, 47°29'49"S, 72°56'51"W, alt. ca. 70 m, sobre tronco caído en claro del bosque, J. Larraín & R. Vargas 26799, 19 Ene 2007 (CONC): Region VIII, Bío Bío Province, road from Tomeco to Florida, 2 km N from Hwy 0–50, 36°57'S 72°40'W, alt. ca. 190 m, on soil bank, R.R. Ireland & G. Bellolio 32401 (MO).

A common temperate species in the central and south regions of Chile from Coquimbo Region to at least the Los Lagos Region but absent from colder subantarctic climates. It also occurs in Australia and New Zealand (Spence and Ramsay 2019). The species is found on exposed to partially shaded damp to drying soil, sand, and rock ledges, often in open woodlands or on cliffs and outcrops. The species is characterized by dioicous sexual condition, medium-sized imbricate golden to yellow-green strongly concave leaves, a costa excurrent in a long often denticulate awn, a weak or nearly absent limbidium distally, serrate distal leaf margins, and the absence of rhizoidal tubers (Illustrations: Spence and Ramsay 2006: 335, as R. campylothecium; Fife 2015: 85, as R. campylothecium).

Region VIII, Prov. Ñuble, Cobquecura, rock cliffs near ocean, 36°05'S 72°48'W, alt. ca. 0 m, on cliff, R.R. Ireland & G. Bellolio 32374, 9 Oct 2001 (MO): Region VIII, Prov. Concepción, Puda Beach, 36°29'S 72°54'W, alt. ca. 0 m, R.R. Ireland & G. Bellolio 32267, 7 Oct. 2001 (MO).

A worldwide temperate species found in a wide variety of habitats, but most often on damp shaded soil or fallen logs and tree stumps. Its distribution in Chile remains poorly understood but it is common in the more temperate southern regions such as Bío Bío (Ireland et al. 2017). It is characterized by dioicous sexual condition, rosulate stems, small obovate leaves that are spirally twisted around the stem when dry, a costa excurrent into a medium to long awn, moderately well-developed limbidium, serrate distal leaf margins, and small brown rhizoidal tubers (Illustrations: Syed 1973: 270 as Bryum capillare; Spence and Ramsay 2006: 336, as R. capillare; Hallingbäck et al. 2008: 349, as B. capillare; Fife 2015: 86, as R. capillare; Lüth 2019: 923 as Ptychostomum capillare; Holyoak 2021: 72, as P. capillare).

Region VIII, Prov. Concepción, Bellavista Creek, San José Farm, 36°41'S 72°56'W, alt. ca. 90 m, on rotten log, stream with adjacent native forest with predominantly Nothofagus, Aetoxicon punctatum & Peumus boldus, R.R. Ireland & G. Bellolio 33903, 23 Nov. 2001 (MO): Region VIII, Bío Bío Province, Saltillo del Itata, small falls on Itata River, 37°04'S 72°09'W, ca. 210 m, on brick wall beside poplar trees by river, R.R. Ireland & G. Bellolio 34950, 28 Oct. 2002 (MO).

A relatively uncommon species found principally in semi-arid regions in the central and northern regions of Chile and adjacent areas of Bolivia, found on sandy soil or soil over rock, often near streams. The species is characterized by its dioicous sexual condition, evenly foliate stems, large narrowly ovate leaves that are spirally twisted around the stem when dry, a weak limbidium distally, and brown to red-brown rhizoidal tubers. Ochi (1980) had synonymized it with R. canariense but it is treated here as a good species (see below under R. canariense). (Illustration: Ochi 1980: 148, as Bryum canariense).

Aisén Region, Provincia Capitán Prat, río Baker, pasando balsa Baker y luego camino río abajo, en bosque en cerro detrás de la casa de don Delmiro, junto a riachuelo, 47°15'46"S, 72°42'54"W, alt. ca. 100 m, en el suelo junto al arroyo, J. Larraín & R. Vargas 26697, 18 Ene 2007 (CONC); Region VIII, Prov. Ñuble, road from Cobquecura to Quiríhue, 24 km SE of Cobquecura, Mengel Creek, 36°13'S 72°36'W, alt. ca. 360 m, on sandy soil beside creek, R.R. Ireland & G. Bellolio 32323, 8 Oct 2001 (MO).

A robust species distributed throughout the Neotropics, primarily along the mountain chains from Mexico south to Chile, and throughout the Andes (Ochi 1980). It is common at higher elevations, often above 3000 m, but can also occur in the lowlands, and is found along streams and in wetland areas on wet soil or rock. The species is characterized by its dioicous sexual condition, long evenly foliate stems with large narrowly ovate leaves, a costa excurrent into a medium to long awn, strong limbidium, sharply serrate to denticulate distal leaf margins, with the teeth often double, and brown to red-brown rhizoidal tubers (Ochi 1967: 30, as Bryum densifolium).

Bío Bío Region, Prov. Ñuble, Renegado River at Aserradero bridge, 36°54'S 71°28'W, alt. ca. 1000 m, on muddy soil bank beside river, R.R. Ireland & G. Bellolio 30831, 9 Dec 2002 (MO).

A common species in the central regions of Chile, from the Bío Bío north to at least Coquimbo, usually on tree trunks and larger branches, stumps and fallen trees in forests, occasionally on soil. The species is characterized by dioicous sexual condition, small leaves, rosulate fertile stems, with numerous rosulate to evenly foliate innovations with leaves spirally twisted around the stem when dry, strong excurrent costa in medium to long awn which is sometimes red, brown to red-brown filiform gemmae in the leaf axils of sterile shoots, and small red to red-brown rhizoidal tubers. Ochi (1982) synonymized this with the Neotropical R. pseudocapillare (Besch.) Ochyra, but R. longidens is quite distinct from that species. The single report from Argentina (Ochi 1982; as R. pseudocapillare) needs to be re-examined as it may be a different species, thus R. longidens may be a Chilean endemic. It is the only epiphytic species in the genus in Chile. There are no known illustrations of this species.

Region VIII, Bío Bío Province, Lago Falls as south side of Laja River, 37°12'S 72°22'W, alt. ca. 170 m, on tree stump, R.R. Ireland & G. Bellolio 34815, 23 Oct. 2002 (MO); Region VIII, Prov. Arauco, Huillinco Falls, 37°45'S 73°22'W, alt. ca. 130 m, on base of large Nothofagus sp., falls and rock cliff in native forests, R.R. Ireland & G. Bellolio 33662, 12 Nov. 2001 (MO).

An uncommon species of moist to wet soil in the subantarctic moorlands and Nothofagus forests in southern Chile, reaching north to the Aisén Region (Ochi 1982; Larraín 2016)). The species is characterized by dioicous sexual condition, rosulate stems, large ovate leaves that are ±imbricate when dry, costa excurrent into a short awn, a fairly well developed limbidium, finely serrulate distal leaf margins, and brown to red-brown rhizoidal tubers. The species is also known from the Falkland Islands and Argentina (Illustrations: Ochi 1967: 33, as Bryum macrophyllum).

Región de Aisén, Provincia de Aisén, Comuna de Cisnes Parque Nacional Queulat, sector Angostura Risopatrón, sendero Los Colonos, bosque de Amomyrtus luma-Nothofagus nitida-Laureliopsis philippiana, sobre tronco podrido en la orilla del lago, 44°14'04"S, 72°30'24"W, elev. 130 m, J. Larraín 43684, with R. Vargas, E. Muñoz & J.F. Croxatto, 14 dic 2019 (CONC).

A common and widespread species of the subantarctic forests and moorlands of the Magallanes and Aisén Regions on damp to wet soil, fallen logs, and tree stumps (Ochi 1982). Reports from further north are likely misidentifications and are either R. andicola or R. billarderii. This is a robust species with dioicous sexual condition, rosulate stems, sometimes with 2+ interrupted clumps along stems, large leaves that are contorted to somewhat imbricate when dry, serrulate distal leaf margins, an extremely wide limbidium of 4+ rows distally, and brown to red-brown rhizoidal tubers. The wide limbidium often gives the leaves a white-margined appearance. The species is also found in Argentina, the Falkland Islands, and extreme southern New Zealand (Illustrations: Mohamed 1979: 422, as Bryum perlimbatum; Fife 2015: 87, as R. perlimbatum).

Prov. Antártica Chilena, Comuna Cabo de Hornos, Parque Nacional Alberto de Agostini, Isla Hoste, Península Dumas, Bahía Ibáñez, Caleta Yekadahby, 55°03'47“S, 68°25'19“W, on soil in shade in moist Nothofagus betuloides-N. pumilio-Maytenus magellanica forest on E-facing slope with extensive rock outcrops, J.R. Spence 6059, 15 January 2013(CAS).

This species was synonymized under R. capillare by Ochi (1980). However, it differs in significant ways. It is characterized by small rosulate to evenly foliate stems, small leaves that are somewhat imbricate to irregularly contorted when dry, costa excurrent in a short awn, a weak to sometimes absent limbidium, and smooth to finely serrulate distal leaf margins. Perhaps most striking are its sexual condition and rhizoidal tubers. Most collections are synoicous, but some are single-sex and thus would be considered dioicous. The species likely has the same sexual systems as R. torquescens and can be described as polyoicous. The rhizoidal tubers are similar to those produced by R. rubens, with often protuberant cell walls, but they are much larger. Some tubers are up to 600 µm across, with colors varying from red-brown to red or orange. R. puconense seems to have a preference for mesic to dry soil under shrubs and is especially common along the coasts from central Chile south to the Tierra del Fuego region. Although currently a Chilean endemic, it may ultimately be found in southern Argentina. There are no known illustrations of this species.

Prov. Antártica Chilena, Comuna Cabo de Hornos, Isla Grande de la Tierra del Fuego, Bahía Yendegaia, NNE shore opposite Caleta Ferrari, 54°50'28“S, 68°47'52“W, on dry exposed soil over rock outcrops near ocean, J.R. Spence 6042, 13 January 2013 (CAS): Region VIII, Bío Bío Province, Saltillo del Itata, small falls on Itata River, 37°04'S 72°09'W, ca. 210 m, on soil bank among poplar trees by river, R.R. Ireland & G. Bellolio 34940, 28 Oct. 2002 (MO).

A rare species generally found in disturbed habitats, especially on disturbed soil and concrete, and possibly introduced from the northern hemisphere. There is only one record from Chile in disturbed habitats in the capitol Santiago (Ochi and Mahu 1988, at HO, not seen!). It is characterized by its dioicous sexual condition, rosulate to somewhat evenly foliate stems, small leaves that are irregularly contorted when dry, costa excurrent into a medium-length awn, a narrow but usually distinct limbidium, and serrulate distal leaf margins. The plants are often reddish-tinged. The rhizoidal tubers are diagnostic; predominantly red, with strongly protuberant cell walls, from 100–280 µm in diameter, often arising from lower leaf axils or at the base of the stem on short rhizoids. The species has a scattered world-wide temperate distribution (Illustrations: Crundwell and Nyholm 1964: 630, as Bryum rubens; Lüth 2019: 938 as Ptychostomum rubens; Holyoak 2021: 232, as P. rubens).

A widespread warm temperate to subtropical species in the northern hemisphere, Africa, Australasia and South America (Spence and Ramsay 2019). Although there are few collections from Chile, the species is likely to be common in the Mediterranean-climate regions of the country as far south as Los Lagos. It is found on soil, soil over rock and occasionally wood, including burnt wood, generally in exposed areas, often along road cuts. It is characterized by synoicous or rarely autoicous sexual condition, rosulate stems, medium-sized leaves that are irregularly contorted when dry, a costa excurrent in a medium to long awn, strong limbidium, serrate distal leaf margins, and scarlet, bright red to orange rhizoidal tubers (Illustrations: Syed 1973, 308 as Bryum torquescens; Spence and Ramsay 2006: 347, as R. torquescens; Hallingbäck et al. 2008: 350, as B. torquescens; Lüth 2019: 939 as Ptychostomum torquescens; Holyoak 2021: 257, as P. torquescens).

Los Lagos Region, Chiloé, communa de Ancud, Estación Biológica Senda Darwin, Al fondo de al “ciudad de los Muertos”, Sobre tronco caido ed bosque Quemado, 41°52'S 73°39'W, 300 m, J. Larraín 23424, 2 Feb. 2003 (CONC): Region VIII, Prov. Concepcion, Park “Jorge Alessandri” (Compania Manufacturera de Papeles y Cartones), on soil in clearing, 36°56'S 73°09'W, ca. 200–490 m, R.R. Ireland & G. Bellolio 32819, 19 Oct. 2001 (MO).