*1: Housel Bay, Lizard,
1917, WEN (Paton 1973a: 247, 248, 1974a: 162); specimens
collected from Housel Bay and Lizard Downs, 1916 to 1935, by
WEN, sometimes in the company of JBD, DAJ & HHK, are in
(BBSUK, BM, CGE, NMW, PC, S-PA) (Paton 1973a: 247).
*2: Soil on cliff top
near path, above S. side of Rocky Valley, between Boscastle
and Tintagel, SX08, 2000, JAP (BBSUK)
(Blackstock 2001: 36).
See Paton (1973a) for description and Paton (1994)
for elevation to species rank.
Although detailed microscopic study of mature
spores is usually necessary to identify this species,
well-grown plants lacking spores can be identified if they
combine purple rhizoids and a thick stem (although care needs
to be taken to avoid confusion with Fossombronia
angulosa).
Habitat notes from C&S are as follows. On Isles
of Scilly on coastal heaths, cliff tops, coastal slopes and in
short vegetation on acidic sand in a dune slack (Tresco),
often on partly bare trampled ground beside paths. Sometimes
forms large populations in partly bare damp peaty hollows in
coastal Calluna
vulgaris heaths. Recorded growing close to Fossombronia incurva.
A single atypical record from partly shaded loamy soil in a
garden ca 1 km
inland near Rocky Hill on St Mary's. On mainland on
compressed, partly bare, unshaded soil of track above
sea-cliffs, with Archidium
alternifolium, Fossombronia
'husnotii', Lophozia excisa, Riccia crozalsii. Also
soil exposed on unshaded bank beside coastal
inlet.
Only identified c.fr.(with mature spores, or when
grown-on). Capsules: immature 4, dehiscing
4.