Didymodon vinealis Soft-tufted Beard-moss

A dioicous, acrocarpous moss which occurs in dry, calcareous habitats particularly on mortar in walls (frequently at the base of the wall) as well as limestone quarries, sandy soils and compacted soils along tracks and roads. It has also been recorded on slag spoil within the Port Talbot steelworks. Like Didymodon insulanus its upper leaves are longer than those below but they are not as long as with that species. It is most common in the southeast of Britain and it is relatively scarce in Wales and rare in south Wales. It is very uncommon in West Glamorgan with a few records in Swansea, the Gower peninsula and Port Talbot steelworks. Sporophyte capsules are uncommon in spring and summer.

Site notes:

Port Talbot steelworks, 02-Aug-24 (BS): Direct associates where the species was noted on a steel slag bund (made up of rock-to-dust matrix) included Bilimbia sabulosa, Bryum argenteum, Ceratodon conicus, Didymodon tophaceus & Leptogium subtile.