Fissidens curvatus

Range & Status

(syn. F. algarvicus Solms). Mainly a European species, occurring very locally over a wide range from the Iberian Peninsula north to Luxembourg and east to Greece; also in Macaronesia, N. Africa and Turkey. In the British Isles recorded mostly in SW. England, with fewer sites in Wales and SW. Ireland. Probably often overlooked because of its small size and frequent occurrence in small quantity.

Regional Distribution

The records from Cornwall form the majority of the post-1950 records in Britain. They are mainly on or near the south coast of Cornwall with a few on low ground inland.

Habitat & Ecology

Grows on acidic, clayey soils of steep sheltered banks. Cornish sites were in woodland, near cliff-top paths, on lane-banks and in a quarry. Sporophytes are occasional, ripening from winter to spring; December to May in Cornwall (Paton, 1969). This tiny plant has a reputation for appearing intermittently, but detailed observations are needed to confirm this. In recent years it has been seen regularly in Cornwall only near Talland Bay.

Threats

A site in a quarry near Tregony was destroyed in 1968 (Paton, 1969).

00 Conservation

This species is listed on the UK BAP Priority Species list (2007).