Environmental conditions in distinct tropical rainforest phytophysiognomies can act as regional fi lters in determining the distribution of montane bryofl ora likewise, local fi lters inherent to phorophyte species can have modulating infl uences. We analyzed the bryophyte communities in three phytophysiognomies of Atlantic Forest, in order to examine the infl uences of local (phorophyte species) and regional (forest phytophysiognomies) fi lters on their distributions. Th e study was undertaken in the Serra do Mar State Park, Ubatuba, SP, Brazil, using 1 ha plots in three forest phytophysiognomies along an elevational gradient. Four phorophyte species were selected, with three to seven replicates each. Th e line-intercept method was used on each phorophyte for collecting botanical material. Multivariate analyses were used to correlate species distributions with environmental fi lters. A total of 71 taxa were identifi ed. Mean bryophyte coverage did not vary among the diff erent phytophysiognomies, and although their species compositions were markedly distinct, no cohesive or isolated groups were found. Among the local fi lters examined, phorophyte DBH was found to be correlated with bryophyte coverage; the pH of the bark of Euterpe edulis and the high rugosity of the trunk of the Cyatheaceae infl uenced species compositions. Other fi lters not evaluated here may also be relevant for determining species distributions.