*1: ConnorDowns, 1866, WC (PNZ) (Paton 1969a:
750).
*2: Track between
fields, SE. of Mitchell, N. of Truro, Sep. 1962, JAP
(BBSUK) (Warburg 1963b: 503, Paton 1969a:
750).
M.O. Hill (in Corley & Hill 1981 and in Hill et al. 1994: 318)
revised British records because this species had often been
misidentified. Cornish records accepted by MOH are accepted
here, as also are recent records [and older specimens] checked
by DTH following study of material sent by MOH. The entire or
weakly denticulate leaf margin is best distinction from Brachythecium
rutabulum, but care needs to be taken to avoid muddles
with forms of B. albicans (dioicous
not autoicous; shoots string-like when dry due to erect
leaves; short basal cells in triangular group ascending leaf
margin) and Sciuro-hypnum plumosum
(leaves often secund, often fertile, typically in wetter
habitat and not usually on soil).
Probably often overlooked as poorly grown B. rutabulum. Habitat
notes from Cornwall are as follows. Growing on or beside paths
and tracks, or in gateways, where usually seen on damp soil
with incomplete or low cover of mosses, herbs and grasses.
Compressed soil on path and track edges, gateways, almost
unshaded (associates Barbula convoluta, Barbula
unguiculata, Bryum
argenteum, Bryum
dichotomum,
Didymodon insulanus, Didymodon
nicholsonii, Didymodon umbrosus).
Damp, compacted soil with patchy cover of vegetation in little
used area of gravel car park near coast. Gravelly soil still
partly bare of roadside lay-by, almost unshaded, associated
with small acrocarps including Barbula unguiculata,
Dicranella
staphylina, Tortula
truncata. Edge of grass verge beside lane across a Lizard
pen. heath, close to edge of old tarmac. Other records of it
growing over tarmac at edge of road through heathland (near Bryum dichotomum) and
at base of wall of old bridge. N. of Crow's Nest: on edge of
gravelly track on old mine area, slightly shaded by embankment
and trees. Millook: with rather sparse grasses and other
mosses on compressed soil in middle of track, almost unshaded.
Compressed soil among short grasses in middle of track at edge
of arable field. Gravelly roadside verge used as parking
place, gravel in field gateway, gravelly edge of track, all
three sites with incomplete low vegetation cover, unshaded.
Over old unshaded damp tarmac. With low vegetation on unshaded
old track near serpentinite quarries on coast. At Porthallow
sparsely on head of shingle beach. Unshaded disturbed gravelly
soil near disused granite quarry. Locally plentiful at
Polcrebo Downs as colonist on unshaded disturbed lithosol on
area of old mining ground. One record from arable field
(cereal stubble) by CDP. In damp edge of grass ley with Brachythecium
rutabulum,
Oxyrrhynchium hians, Kindbergia
praelonga,
Philonotis caespitosa, Phaeoceros
laevis.
Not seen c.fr.
