Brachythecium mildeanum Sand Feather-moss

An autoicous, pleurocarpous moss often regarded as difficult or confusing when it comes to identification. It is associated with seasonally damp habitats such as damp grasslands and dune slacks or wet habitats like tall-herb fen and even on woodland tracks. It also seems to be found increasingly in weedy places like car parks, gravel tracks and tarmac and may be expanding its range in these places. It can be confused with some forms of the much more common Brachythecium rutabulum, but it tends to have much narrower and more upright leaves that are not toothed. Also the sporophyte has a smooth (not roughened) seta, although, unfortunately, sporophytes are rarely produced. Its erect growth is also reminiscent of Brachythecium albicans which is another source of confusion. It is much more common in the south of Britain, particularly the south-east, but it is locally frequent in Wales, particularly in the south-west. Until recently there had been few records of it in Glamorgan and south Wales, but it seems to be increasing in West Glamorgan, particularly in coastal waste ground and open mosaic habitats.