Hygrohypnum luridum Pict-moss

An autoicous, pleurocapous moss which forms brownish-green patches over rocks or tree roots that are irrigated with water from fast flowing, streams and rivers in the uplands. It prefers base rich habitats, sometimes occuring on limestone but it often grows in habitats that are only slightly base-rich. Confusion with Hygrohypnella ochracea is likely but that species rarery has sporophyte capsules and is usually more robust. It is found throughout Britain but is most common in the west and north but it has a somewhat patchy distribution Wales. It has a scattered distribution in West Glamorgan and it is most frequent along river sytems that are more base-rich, e.g. there are more records from the Vale of Neath than the Afan Valley. Sporophyte capsules are frequent from spring to summer.