Solenostoma gracillimum Crenulated Flapwort

A dioicous leafy liverwort and a pioneer species of base-poor sandy or clay soils, particularly on banks and along paths where there is some disturbance, for example from trampling or weathering. It often grows with other pioneer species such as Nardia scalaris with which it bears a superficial resemblance. Colonies usually consist of a mixture of female plants with distinctly bordered, circular leaves and male plants that have very slender shoots (see photo). It is usually possible to identify plants unambiguously in the field. It is the most common flapwort in Britain and it is widespread and abundant in Wales. In West Glamorgan it is a common species of the South Wales Coalfield where it is particularly frequent on banks and the disturbed edges of forest roads, but it is uncommon in Gower and restricted there to areas in the vicinity of the base-poor Commons. Sporophyte capsules are frequent in spring and summer.