Bryum subsect. Caespitibryum Podpěra, Rozpr. Česke Akad. Cisaře Františka Josefa Vědy, Tř. 2, Vědy Math. Prír. 10(2): 52. 1901

Plants small or large, pale green to red-green. Stems gemmiform to evenly foliate, sometimes in 2 or more clumps along stem, innovations and fertile stem leaves somewhat differentiated, innovations not julaceous; rhizoids red-brown to red. Leaves imbricate, sometimes slightly twisted when dry, ovate-lanceolate, concave; base not decurrent; margins entire to serrulate distally, limbidium present or sometimes absent; costa not reaching apex to long-excurrent; inflated group of pinkish subalar cells present on larger distal leaves of fertile stems; medial and distal laminal cells rectangular to hexagonal. Specialized asexual reproduction by deciduous brood branchlets in leaf axils, rarely by rhizoidal tubers. Sexual condition dioicous. Capsule nutant, pyriform, 2-3(-4) mm; hypophysis slender, gradually tapered to seta, not inflated and rugose; peristome well developed; endostome not adherent to exostome, basal membrane high, segments well developed, cilia long, appendiculate.

Species ca. 6 (3 in the flora): nearly worldwide except Antarctica; boreal-temperate, Mediterranean climates.

Section Caespitibryum includes Gemmabryum caespiticium and several narrowly defined segregates. The group is tentatively placed in Gemmabryum. In some respects the species are reminiscent of species in Ptychostomum sect. Cladodium, especially P. creberrimum. Plants of sect. Caespitibryum have acuminate leaf apices and red-brown capsules.