Rhynchostegiella teneriffae Teesdale Feather-moss

A very small, autoicous pleurocarpous moss which grows on wet rocks by streams or on dripping rock faces and ledges in shaded ravines. The tiny, wiry shoots have narrow, elliptical leaves that are not drawn out into a fine tip like those of Rhyncostegiella tenalla. It is frequently found on base-rich rocks such as limestone but also occurs on Old Red Sandstone and other sandstone rocks. It is quite shade tolerant and it is often found in very shaded locations in recesses and caves. It is a Submediterranean-Subatlantic species with a patchy, mostly western distribution in Britain and is uncommon in Wales with occurences in coastal sites and inland ravines. It is very rare in West Glamorgan with records from damp, shaded, limestone crevices in Gower and shaded recesses in the Nedd Fechan Valley. Sporophyte capsules are frequent in winter and spring.