*1: Bochym, Mullion,
1930, WEN (CGE) (Paton 1969a:
706).
Most British sites are in Cornwall, all the others
being in W. Scotland.
Following detailed research carried out for
Plantlife during 1997-1998, located at five groups of sites on
Lizard pen., with total of 47 patches known, covering total
area of ca 0.8 m².
All of the sites were closely associated with serpentinite
crags and all of the patches were in sheltered locations and
partly shaded, with shade from trees at three sites (often
Sycamore, but oaks, elms and conifers at some sites), bushes
at one (Broom, Blackthorn) and overhanging rocks at one. All
of the sites are in stable habitats that have been little
disturbed for decades; it avoids exposed coastal sites,
inundation zones of streams and places subject to heathland
fires, but apparently prefers places with little exposure to
wind, rain or much direct sunlight. By 2009 the populations at
the richest sites (Bonython Plantation) had declined
considerably, due mainly to increased shade from the maturing
plantation of Western Red Cedars.
It mainly occurs in rather dry places on somewhat
overhanging or overhung faces, with wide variety of aspects
(all points of compass). The largest amounts grow
epiphytically on low pleurocarpous mosses that are themselves
growing on rocks and which are typically rather short and
lacking in vigour because of shading and dryness of
substrates. Lesser amounts grow on algal films, thin decaying
lichens or directly on rock, and in one site on bark of an old
Hedera hibernica
stem against the rock. The commonest of its close associates
include the mosses over which it often grows (Kindbergia praelonga,
Isothecium myosuroides
var.
myosuroides, Thamnobryum
alopecurum, less often Hypnum cupressiforme
var.
resupinatum, Pterogonium gracile).
Among the more frequent of its numerous less common associates
or near-associates are Homalothecium
sericeum, Lejeunea
lamacerina,
Lejeunea cavifolia (only at Kynance), Marchesinia mackaii,
Metzgeria furcata,
Neckera complanata,
Porella
arboris-vitae and Radula complanata s. l. The most frequent
of the numerous vascular plant species recorded near to it are
Geranium
robertianum, Hedera
hibernica, Lonicera
periclymenum, Asplenium
scolopendrium, Rubus fruticosus s. l. and Polypodium
interjectum.
Not seen c.per. or c.fr. by DTH.
