Bryophytes » Plagiotheciaceae » Isopterygiopsis pulchella Neat Silk-moss

Isopterygiopsis pulchella Neat Silk-moss

(Hedw.) Z.Iwats.

An arctic-montane, autoicous, pleurocarpous moss of moist ledges and crevices in upland and mountainous areas. Plants are slender with creeping shoots bearing leaves that are held away from the stem and which narrow to a long fine point. The nerve is very short and double or absent. Colonies are hard to spot unless they are searched for deliberately, but the presence of capsules in spring and summer make them more conspicuous. It is found in the west and north of Britain and is most common in the highlands of Scotland. It is found on the higher ground of Wales from the upland plateaux of Glamorgan through the Brecon Beacons to the mountainous areas of mid and north Wales, but is not found in west Wales. It has been recorded from sandstone outcrops in 2 sites in West Glamorgan, Craig y Llyn and Cymmer, where it is near to its southern limit in Britain. Sporophyte capsules are common.

Isopterygiopsis pulchella - © Charles Hipkin
Isopterygiopsis pulchella - © Charles Hipkin

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