Campylopus introflexus Heath Star Moss

A very common, dioicous, acrocarpous moss which was introduced to Britain and first recorded in Sussex in 1941. It is native to temperate regions of the southern hemisphere. It wasn't included in the first edition of E.V. Watson's British Mosses and Liverworts, which was published in 1955, such was its relative anonymity at that time. But it underwent an incredible spread and range expansion in the 20 years after that and is now found throughout Britain and much of Ireland and is one our the most commmon bryophytes. Few other non-native plants have undergone such a rapid range expansion in the British flora. It is a rapid coloniser of bare peaty ground and heathland where it often occurs in great abundance forming extensive sheets. It also grows in dunes, on coal tips, on rock, fence posts and decaying logs. It is very common in all these habitats in West Glamorgan although it seems to be only slowly colonising the Gower Commons. Sporophyte capsules are common from spring onwards.