Plenogemma phyllantha Frizzled Pincushion

A dioicous, acrocarpous moss which is usually found growing as an epiphyte on willow, ash, elder and other trees, but also on rock in coastal areas. It forms loose cushions with leaves that become greatly curled when dry and its shoots have prominent clusters of brown gemmae at their tips. Flora of Glamorgan described it as uncommon in a few localities in Gower and the Vale, but it is one of a group of epiphytic bryophytes that has undergone a very significant increase in recent decades, particularly inland, probably in response to improvements in air quality. It still has a patchy distribution in many parts of inland Britain but it is now common and found throughout much of the west and north. It is widely distributed in West Glamorgan and is particularly common on willow trees along the edges of conifer forests. Sporophyte capsules are rare.

This species was formerly and better known as Ulota phyllantha.