C. monodon is a common wet forest to rainforest liverwort which grows on various substrates (although mostly on tree bark). It can be inconspicuous liverwort, especially when growing diffusely among other bryophytes. However, the tongue shaped leaves with pointed tips are unmistakable. The oil bodies are coarse and spherical (or almost so) and the cells have very thick and often merging (confluent) trigones.

Some authorities consider this species to be included under the genus Jamesoniella.