Bryum violaceum Pill Bryum

A small tuberous Bryum with smooth, or lightly papillose, violet-purple rhizoids. Safe identification and separation from other similar species requires microscopic examination of the small tubers, the rhizoids and the dimensions of the leaf cells. Bryum ruderale has violet rhizoids which are coarsely papillose and larger tubers. It is a moss of disturbed habitats, especially arable fields, roadsides and waste ground. It is more common in Britain in areas where arable farming is most common and it has a patchy distribution in Wales. There a very few records of it in West Glamogan where it is likely to be under recorded.