*1: Soil on rocks in
old quarry on cliffs S. of Cadgwith, Lizard, Mar. 1962, JAP
(BBSUK) (Warburg 1963b: 497, Paton 1969a:
728).
*2: With Pleuridium subulatum
on broken soil under brambles on cliffs S. of Portscatho, Jan.
1962, JAP (BBSUK) (Warburg 1963b: 497, Paton
1969a: 728).
A globally threatened species for which three of
the four most recent records worldwide are from Cornwall (the
fourth being from Monmouthshire). Between 1999 and 2003 it was
almost lost from one of these three locations (at Pentire
Point East, through spread of Gorse and tall grasses on the
ungrazed cliff-top). However, a few other finds of non-fertile
and hence unidentifiable Weissia subgenus Astomum on arable
fields might have been referable to this species (e.g. 30 Mar.
2002, on soil amongst cereal stubble NW. of Trevalga,
SX075900).
Two other records are not supported by
vouchers, have not been refound, and are therefore rejected
(from SW61W, SW71T). [Specimens from SW62 (cliffs N. of Church
Cove, Gunwalloe, leg. JAP, 1960, 1962, 1990, OXF) have been
reidentified as W.
longifolia
var. longifolia
but are erroneously shown for both
species in Atlas
2].
Grows as scattered stems on otherwise bare soil, in
small to more extensive tufts (up to 6 cm diameter), or
scattered in tufts or patches of other mosses (Bryum donianum, Trichostomum
brachydontium, Conocephalum conicum).
Other habitat notes from Cornish localities are as
follows.
S. of Portscatho: on partly bare patches of loamy
soil (horizontal to steeply sloping) on tops of low 'hedges'
between arable fields/grass leys, close to tops of low
sea-cliffs and unshaded. As small pure patches or intermixed
with other low mosses, including: Barbula convoluta
var. sardoa, Bryum rubens, Ceratodon purpureus,
Fissidens bryoides
var. bryoides,
Fissidens taxifolius
var.
taxifolius, Trichostomum
brachydontium, Conocephalum conicum.
Vascular plants close by mainly grasses (Dactylis glomerata, Festuca rubra, etc.)
but others include Cerastium fontanum, Glechoma hederacea, Hedera hibernica, Plantago lanceolata.
Talland: horizontal to sloping, often thin,
unshaded soil over slaty rock on low banks in unimproved
coastal pasture; associates include Bryum donianum, Bryum rubens, Didymodon insulanus,
Fissidens incurvus,
Tortula truncata,
Weissia
controversa; vascular plants close by include Agrostis stolonifera,
Dactylis glomerata,
Festuca rubra, and
various common grassland herbs such as Bellis perennis, Plantago
lanceolata.
Pentire Point East: single stem in 1999, with other
low mosses on soil near top edge of slaty cliff
(DTH).
Only recorded cfr, capsules immature 1-4. It was
noted on 1 May 2003 that some of biggest patches S. of
Portscatho had capsules maturing in moderate shade of 'canopy'
of grasses and herbs 10-25 cm tall.