Racomitrium ericoides Dense Fringe-moss

A dioicous, acrocarpous moss which grows in open, gravelly sites, on coal tips, quarries and on rock. It forms upright, yellowish-green mounds and patches which can be abundant and extensive, consisting of plants with rough-looking leaves that often have prominent, pale, hair points which make them quite conspicuous. It is very similar to Racomitrium canescens but it has strongly keeled leaves with a strong nerve that is visible almost to the tip of the leaf and it grows in different habitats. Plants in some colonies lack hair points and may then resemble Racomitrium fasciculare. However the leaves of that species do not look rough and it grows as prostrate mats on exposed rocks. Racomitrium ericoides is a Suboceanic species which is widespread throughout much of western and northern Britain. It is common in much of Wales and it is very common in the uplands of the South wales Coalfield in West Glamorgan. It is particularly common on fine gravel in quarry sites, along the edges of gravelled forest roads in plantations and on coal tips. Sporophyte capsules are occasional in winter.