Photo
by Dr M Lueth ©.
*1: New Downs, St
Agnes, 1914, FR (BM) (Paton 1969a:
727).
*2: Tregawn near
Withiel, 1870, RVT (B) (Paton 1969a:
727).
Grows as low lawns or loose tufts. Recorded only
from horizontal to near-vertical surfaces of partly bare
mineral soil (loamy, stony; mildly acidic?), where fully
insolated or slightly shaded by grasses. Records are from soil
exposed in unimproved pasture on hillslope, a low N.-facing
bank between pastures, bank in grassy flush near coast, on
flat floor of quarry, and twice on banks and soil heaps on old
mining ground. Associates were not recorded in detail, but
include other mosses and common low-growing
grasses.
In the grassy flush it occurred close to the very
similar W. brachycarpa var. brachycarpa, providing
an identification problem because the very short caducous
peristome of W. rutilans is often
almost impossible to distinguish from the absence of a
peristome in W. brachycarpa. However,
the longer capsules of W. rutilans allowed
recognition of this species in the mixed
gatherings.
Commonly c.fr. (only recorded when mature capsules
or mature spores examined): capsules immature 1; dehiscing 1,
2, 4, 5.
