[1][4][5] Aquatic species live by or in running water, including streams, springs, rivers, beds of waterfalls, and seepy cliffs.

[3][6] Rhynchostegium are small to large mosses that form either loose tuft or extensive mats on the substrate, with irregular or regular branching.

[1] Leaf base, decurrent or not, varies from ovate to ovate-cordate, occasionally lanceolate, and the narrowing from gradual to abrupt, towards a short- or long-acuminate apex, where sometimes a differentiated long acumen or apiculus is present.

[7][8] Methanol extract of R.pallidifolium represses the seedling of cress, alfalfa, lettuce, ryegrass, timothy,and Digitaria sanguinalis in a concentration-dependent manner.

[8] The presence of 3-hydroxy-β-ionone in their natural substrate and the growing medium suggested secretion to the environment, which may imply an important role of 3-hydroxy-β-ionone in competition with other plants and the forming of pure colonies.

[8] Acetone extract of Rhynchostegium riparioides showed antibiotic activity on some Gram-negative bacteria, including Escherichia coli, Proteus mirabilis, Entero-bacter cloacae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

[9] Ethanolic extract of Rhynchostegium vagans showed similar effect on some Gram-negative bacteria and fungi, with performance superior to chloramphenicol and fluconazole.