Racomitrium affine Lesser Fringe-moss

A dioicous acrocarpous moss which grows on basic or slightly acidic rock in humid gorges, mostly in the lowlands. It also grows on man-made stone structures, including walls. It is difficult to separate from Racomitrium heterostichum, but is less hoary and grey than that species. It is more difficult to separate from Racomitrium sudeticum and safe identification usually requires microscopic examination. However, it much less an upland species of exposed rock and its leaves tend to lie flat when mounted on a microscope slide, whereas those of Racomitrium sudetica rarely do. It has a scattered and largely western distribution in Britain and is uncommon but distributed throughout much of Wales. There are few records in West Glamorgan but it is probably under recorded. The cylindrical sporophyte capsules are occasional in spring.