Tortula lindbergii

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Identification notes

Formerly known as Tortula lanceola, this charming little ephemeral moss is much less common than T. truncata or T. caucasica. However, it’s certainly worth hunting for in open calcareous ground in late winter or early spring. Its striking chestnut brown capsules are often visible before then, but like most spore-producing Tortula species, it cannot be reliably identified until the lid has fallen.

As you can see from the images below, T. lindbergii has a particularly striking peristome, with long. straight, almost white teeth.

Read the Field Guide account

Distribution in Great Britain and Ireland

View distribution from the BBS Atlas 2014

Similar Species

Could also be confused with various Tortula species with long peristome teeth.