Step moss is commonly found in the lower canopy or on the forest floor in lowland to middle elevation forests. Like all plants, it creates its own food through a process called photosynthesis. Using the energy of the sun, it converts air, water, and nutrients from the soil into sugars. Moss gets its nutrients from particles in the air or rain that settles on the moss leaves.  It also gets nutrients from the decomposition of organic matter that collects on its dense vegetative mat. Mites, tardigrades and nematodes are primary decomposers in moss mats. Mosses (including this species), liverworts, and hornworts are currently being examined in the laboratory as potential antitumor agents. Some day this moss might be used by doctors to cure cancer.