Syntrichia ruralis Great Hairy Screw-moss

A bright green, dioicous, acrocarpous moss which grows on walls and rock, especialy where the substrate is base-rich. It also grows on sand dunes and could be mistaken for Syntrichia ruraliformis there. It differs from that species in its leaves which have much more rounded, blunter tips. It is also similar to Syntrichia montana which grows in similar places (see description of that species). It is widespread in much of Britain, particularly in the south and east, but it is largely a lowland plant and uncommon or absent from many parts of Wales. It is widespread in lowland West Glamorgan, particularly along the coast. Sporophyte capsules are uncommon.