*1: Near Penzance,
1860, WC (OXF) (Paton 1969a:
709).
*2: Near Helman Tor,
1878, RVT (TRU) (Paton 1969a:
709).
Paton (1969a: 709) tentatively recognised both S. rubellum and S. capillaceum in
Cornwall. Specialists have since recognised only subsp. rubellum as occurring
here, the range of the rarer subsp. capillifolium being
predominantly more northern in Britain (Blockeel & Long
1998: 64). However, subsp. capillifolium has
recently been recorded in S. Devon (Hill et al. 2008) so it may
be unsafe to assume it does not occur in Cornwall. In the past
these taxa have not usually been recognised by British workers
because intermediate forms are apparently common (cf. Hill
1976, Daniels & Eddy 1990: 96-97); research on systematics
of the group is continuing (Cronberg 1989). Subspecific
identification of specimens from Cornwall has not been
attempted during the present study.
In open, acidic and oligotrophic mires and heathy
or grassy edges of mires. Associates include Calypogeia fissa, Calypogeia
muelleriana, Cladopodiella
fluitans, Hypnum
jutlandicum, Kurzia
pauciflora, Mylia
anomala, Odontoschisma
sphagni,
Rhytidiadelphus loreus, Sphagnum
cuspidatum,
Sphagnum denticulatum, Sphagnum fallax, Sphagnum papillosum,
Sphagnum
tenellum,
Sarmentypnum exannulatum, Calluna vulgaris, Drosera rotundifolia,
Molinia caerulea, other grasses. Old
hummocks of Sphagnum
capillifolium form the characteristic habitat of the rare
Jamesoniella
undulifolia (q.v.), as well as one of
the habitats of commoner small liverworts such as Cephalozia connivens,
Kurzia pauciflora,
Lophozia
ventricosa, Mylia
anomala, Odontoschisma sphagni.
Tends to avoid the wettest areas, or restricted to tops of
hummocks there. Also in open acidic flushes on hillsides and
wet heathy slopes. Only vc1 record was from extensive, acidic
flush on slope above sea-cliff. Several records in flushes and
mires among old china-clay workings, e.g. below old china clay
spoil tips, and in marsh developing on floor of pit, usually
with other sphagna.
Not seen c.fr.
