Fissidens crispus Herzog's Pocket-moss

A minute, Mediterranean-Atlantic, dioicous or autoicous Pocket-moss which grows on dry, base-rich or slightly acidic soil (or sometimes rock) on banks in woodland. Sometimes known as Fissidens limbatus, its exact status and distribution in Britain is unclear. It belongs to the Fissidens viridulus complex and precise identification is sometimes difficult. Both Fissidens crispus and Fissidens viridulus have bordered leaves which have concave sides near the leaf tip. However, the occurence of long leaves around the seta is a good indicator for Fissidens crispus. It is almost certainly under recorded in Wales and most of the records in West Glamorgan are from Gower. This may be a reflection of an ecological preference for calcareous soils but it may also reflect recorder effort. Sporophyte capsules are abundant in from autumn through to spring.