Rhytidiadelphus subpinnatus Scarce Turf-moss

A rare, medium-sized, dioicous, pleurocarpous moss which occurs in woodland and grassy streamsides where there is some shade. It can be locally frequent in suitable habitats but it is easy to miss, being similar to Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus and easily confused with it. However, whereas the leaves of Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus completely cover the stem, there are bare patches between the leaf bases on the stems of Rhytidiadelphus subpinnatus which are usually obvious. The shoots also look quite broad, like those of Loeskeobryum brevirostre which has a different leaf shape. It is very scarce in Britain but a significant number of its records are from Wales. It has been largely misunderstood in the British moss flora in the past, but Sam Bosanquet and Graham Motley have made significant  contibutions to our understanding of the status and ecology of this montane species in Wales. The first records of it in West Glamorgan were from the vicinty of Sgwd Gwladys in the Pyrddin Valley, West Glamorgan, by Graham Motley and Sam Bosanquet in 2008. Sporophyte capsules are rare.