Ptychomitrium polyphyllum Long-shanked Pincushion

An autoicous, acrocarpous moss which forms neat cushions on acidic or slightly basic, exposed or slighly shaded rocks and boulders in the uplands. Large capsules, which have long, conspicuous peristome teeth (see photo) are conspicuous in spring and summer and, interestingly, some of the sporophyte stalks arise in pairs from a perichaetium, a characteristic that is not shared by similar species like Dicanoweisia cirrata and Cynodontium bruntonii which grow in similar places. Its leaves have coarse, distant teeth and become crisped when dry. It is an Oceanic species which is widespread in much of western Britain and common in Wales. In West Glamorgan, it is frequent on sandstone boulders in the uplands of Neath Port Talbot but much less common in Gower. Sporophyte capsules are common and usually abundant.