C. whiteleggei is a handsome plant when well developed and is most frequently found in dry heathland or woodland. However, collections of C. whiteleggei have also been made from wetter forests and subalpine shrubbery, suggesting that this species may be more widespread than previously thought.

The general habitat preference and fuzzy overlapping shoots should sufficiently distinguish this liverwort. Another extremely diagnostic character is the one-celled hairs on the leaves and underleaves. Sporophytes are rare.