Identification notes
Though undoubtedly small, the erect, rigid shoots and waxy-looking spiky leaves will leave you in little doubt that this moss is a relative of Polytrichum and Pogonatum species.
Because the leaves are narrow and incurved, it’s hard to see the tell-tale lamellae of the Polytrichaceae with your lens, but examine a leaf under the compound microscope and they will be conspicuous. This is the only one of our species of Polytrichaceae that has wavy lamellae (see images below) – all the others are straight.
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