Orthotrichum stramineum Straw Bristle-moss

An autoicous, acrocarpous moss which is epiphytic on a variety of trees but particularly ash and hazel. If forms rather compact, rounded cushions and usually has abundant capsules which have a straw-coloured clayptra with a contrasting brown tip and sparse hairs. There are a few long hairs at the base of the sporophyte stalk that are visible with a hand lens, which is a useful identification feature. It has a scattered distribution in Britain but is most frequent in upland locations and rare in markedly oceanic areas such as Cornwall and western Scotland and extremely rare in Ireland. However it is well recorded in south Wales and it is occasional but widespread in West Glamorgan. Sporophyte capsules, which are formed just above the leaves, are common in summer.