Loeskeobryum brevirostre Short-beaked Wood-moss

A bushy, medium-sized, dioicous, pleurocarpous moss which occurs in grassy banks and open woodland and occasionally as an epiphyte on trees or on logs. It has the appearance of a Rhytidiadelphus species and may be confused with them without close inspection. It has undulate-pleated, somewhat stripy-looking leaves, particularly evident when dry, which resemble those of Euthynchium striatum. All of these mosses may grow with it, but what really distinguishes Loeskeobryum brevirostre is the distinctive shape of its leaves, which have an abrupt, sharp, coarsely-toothed point (see photos). It has a western and northern distribution in Britain and it is locally frequent in parts of Wales, but it is nowhere particularly common. It is surprisingly easy to pass-by for other similar pleurocarpous species. All records in West Glamorgan are from Neath Port Talbot where it is found in banks along forest roads at the edges of conifer coupes. Sporophyte capsules are rare.