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Photo
by Dr M Lueth ©.
*1: Newlyn Cliff, 1861, WC (PNZ) (Paton 1969a: 724).
*2: Wadebridge, 1876, RVT (B) (Paton 1969a:
724).
Care is needed to avoid confusion of non-fertile
plants with forms of Trichostomum
brachydontium, especially in coastal localities where that
species is often very common.
Grows as scattered stems, lawns or patches. Notes
on habitats in C&S are as follows. Common as a colonist of
bare mineral soil (of loamy, silty or sandy texture) that is
neutral or basic. Its habitats include arable land (cereals
and their stubble, grass leys, gardens, soil in plant pots),
bare patches in pastures and other grassland, short dune
grassland, banks, disturbed ground, soil heaps, on graves, in
quarries, old mine-spoil, on 'hedges', above sea-cliffs; also
compressed soil e.g. on paths, old tracks, roadsides, in field
gateways, gravelly lay-bys, edge of gravel car parks, head of
shingle beach. Frequently on thin soil over calcareous masonry
or in its crevices, and growing directly on crumbling mortar,
old concrete or soft basic rocks. A few records from crevices
in old tarmac and thin soil over tarmac. Tolerates sites close
to cliff tops and subject to salt spray. Typically in
free-draining sites where it withstands drought, or on
moderately water-retentive soils, but not common on
permanently wet substrates (seen once on dried mud at edge of
pool). Grows mainly in unshaded or lightly shaded places, but
tolerates moderate or occasionally rather heavy shade.
Associates often include Barbula convoluta, Bryum dichotomum, Bryum rubens, Dicranella
schreberiana, Dicranella staphylina,
Dicranella varia,
Didymodon
insulanus, Pohlia
melanodon, Pseudocrossidium
hornschuchianum, Phascum cuspidatum, Tortula muralis, Tortula truncata;
others recorded less often include Bryum apiculatum, Bryum klinggraeffii,
Bryum violaceum, Didymodon tomaculosus,
Microbryum rectum,
Pseudocrossidium
revolutum.
Frequently c.fr.: capsules immature 1-5, 7, 10-12;
dehiscing 1-4, [12]; dehisced 1-5, 7, 11, 12.
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