Orthotrichum pulchellum Elegant Bristle-moss

An autoicous, epiphytic, acrocarpous moss which grows in tufts or neat cushions on trees, especially willows. The very distinctive sporophyte capsules have a hairless calyptra with a brown tip  and conspicuous dark dots around the lower margin. It is quite sensitive to air pollution and it is one of a number of epiphytes (including other Orthotrichum species) that have increased markedly in Britian in recent years as a result of the improvement in air quality. It is now widespread throughout Britain, except for the north of Scotland and it is found throughout most of Wales. It is common in much of West Glamorgan and it is particularly abundant on willows along forest roads in Neath Port Talbot.