*1: Chyenhal Moor,
Newlyn, 1864, WC (PNZ) (Paton 1969a:
710).
*2: Near the R. Tamar
opposite Morwell (Drakewalls), 1835, JR (TRU)
(Paton 1969a: 710).
Colonist, sometimes plentiful, on bare or partly
bare, usually rather dry, acidic, nutrient-poor soils (clayey,
gritty or gravelly in texture), on horizontal to steeply
inclined surfaces, usually in open, but persisting where
lightly shaded by bushes or saplings or moderately shaded in
woodland. Also in thin soil on top of or in crevices of
granitic or slate rocks, occasionally on soil on ruined walls
or 'hedges', on gravel tracks and car parks, on old
metalliferous mine-spoil, and on clay or crumbling surfaces of
rocks in china-clay districts. Found among rocks, in old and
newer granite and china-clay quarries (often abundant on china
clay spoil), on and beside tracks, on earthy or gravelly
banks, heaps of acid soil, in clearings, on and beside tracks,
at edges of woodlands; a few records from upper parts of
reservoir inundation-zones. Common associates include Ceratodon purpureus,
Nardia scalaris, Polytrichum juniperinum
and Polytrichum
piliferum; others recorded include Cephaloziella
hampeana, Lophocolea bispinosa,
Pogonatum aloides,
Scapania compacta,
plus low acidophilous phanerogams including Holcus lanatus and Sedum anglicum. Only
occasionally on metalliferous mine-spoil and then not on
copper-contaminated ground.
Frequent to common c.fr. Capsules immature 1-3,
5-6, 8, 10-12; dehiscing 2-4, dehisced 2, 3, 5, 6,
11.