*1: St Just, 1864, WC
(PNZ) (Paton 1969a:
756).
*2: Trehane, Probus,
1857, ES (TRU) (Paton 1969a:
756).
Notes on its habitats in Cornwall are as follows. A
large, robust moss that often forms extensive pure patches
(mats) on (mainly) well-drained acid soil, mor humus and plant
litter, especially of slopes in deciduous woodland such as
hillside Sessile Oak woods, where it also spreads over low
rocks, dead wood and plant litter. Other sites are in open
conifer plantations (e.g. larch), at wood edges, on laneside
banks and sometimes among rocks in open (e.g. near tors),
grassy heathland, acid grassland or on wet ground in mires.
Commonly grows in light to moderate shade, but also in open or
not infrequently persisting in rather heavy shade, including
that of well-grown coniferous plantations. An unusual record
of a patch on soil near low serpentinite outcrops, where
lightly shaded by scrub. Twice in quantity on heathy slopes
over old china-clay spoil, and two other records near clay
quarries, so evidently able to colonise new sites. Once about
base of Beech tree in grassy churchyard. Also occurs in small
amounts among sphagna in open mires and wet
heathland.
Its associates often include Vaccinium myrtillus,
various grasses, as well as other robust bryophytes of acid
woods (e.g. Dicranum
majus, Eurhynchium
striatum, Hypnum
jutlandicum,
Thuidium tamariscinum).
Occasionally c.fr. (capsules widespread in Draynes
and Hendergrove Woods in spring 2000 and fruiting perhaps
regular there; otherwise two records cfr, from vc1 and
elsewhere in vc2): capsules immature 1, 3, 12, dehiscing 2, 3,
dehisced 3.
