Derived from the Greek kalyptos (covered), and chaite (a bristle or long hair), in reference to the generally long-haired calyptra.

Autoicous or dioicous. Plants slender or robust, often rigid, loosely tufted, variously green. Stems suberect, flattened, simple or dichotomously branched. Leaves 6-rowed, asymmetrical, short-acuminate, dentate above to ±entire; dorsal and ventral leaves appressed; smaller lateral leaves ±spreading; costa short, often weak, unevenly forked, rarely absent. Laminal cells moderately thick-walled, hexagonal, epapillose; basal cells longer and more variable; marginal cells elongate; border generally prominent, 1–7 cells wide, yellowish. Rhizoids mainly at leaf bases, few in leaf axils.

Perigonia and perichaetia lateral. Calyptra usually mitrate, rarely campanulate; base fringed, smooth or with sinuose hairs. Seta thick, fleshy, densely hairy or papillose. Capsules small, oval, with a narrowed mouth; operculum conical, with an erect rostrum; annulus lost with the operculum. Peristome: exostome teeth lanceolate, furrowed, bordered, with high ventral lamellae projecting laterally; endostome segments narrower; basal membrane high; cilia rudimentary or absent. Spores smooth to slightly papillose.

Calyptrochaeta is characterised by the often strong leaf border and the short and unevenly divided leaf costa.

Found on moist soil, rotting wood, rock, fern pinnae and tree bases.

Calyptrochaeta Desv., Mém. Soc. Linn. Paris 3: 226 (1825);

Type: C. cristata (Hedw.) Desv.

Lin, P.-J. & Tan, B.C. (1995), Contributions to the bryoflora of China (12): A taxonomic revision of Chinese Hookeriaceae (Musci), Harvard Pap. Bot. 7: 25–68.

Streimann, H. (2000), Taxonomic studies on Australian Hookeriaceae (Musci). 3. The genera Calyptrochaeta, Daltonia, Hookeriopsis and Sauloma, J. Hattori Bot. Lab. 88: 101–138.

Tan, B.C. & Robinson, H. (1990), A review of Philippine hookeriaceous taxa, Smithonian Contrib. Bot. 75: 1–41.

H.Streimann (2012), Australian Mosses Online 11. Hookeriaceae. Australian Biological Resources Study, Canberra. Version 19 April 2012