Ctenidium molluscum Chalk Comb-moss

A conspicuous, dioicous, pleurocarpous moss which forms dense yellow-green mats of closely-branched shoots with strongly-curved, triangular, nerveless leaves. It is variable in form and 3 varieties are represented in Britain, var. molluscum (the common form), var. condensatum and var. robustum, which is a significantly larger plant than the others. It grows in base-rich habitats such as rocky woodland, on banks and cliffs, walls, calcareous grassland and along gravelled roads. It is widespread throughout most of Britain and is common in Wales. In West Glamorgan it is frequent on the limestone of south Gower but also occurs inland commonly in Neath Port Talbot on walls and particularly along forest roads that have been dressed with limestone. Sporophyte capsules are rare.