Identification notes
Infertile material cannot be identified with certainty as the leaves are very similar to closely related species, although they do have particularly strongly recurved/revolute margins. The nerve is excurrent, often with some small teeth, and there is reddish pigment in the cell walls and nerve towards the base. This isn’t shown in the young leaves at the shoot tip so it is necessary to examine them from further down the stem.
Fortunately, it fruits frequently and has the very characteristic property of the capsules developing over a long period in succession, so they vary considerably in shape, size and colour. None of our other Bryums do this. The capsules are slightly asymmetric with a small slightly oblique lid, but this is quite subtle. It is worth checking the the infloresences are synoicous by dissecting one out. Usually at least one empty antheridium can be found at the base of the seta. The peristome cilia are nodulose or weakly appendiculate.
This uncommon moss is generally found on open, disturbed. base rich friable substrates in places such as old limestone quarries, chalk pits, rocck ledges, calcareous dunes and the edges of dune slacks. Many of the records are coastal.
